Trainer Mark Kavanagh says promising three-year-old Liveandletdie will strip a lot fitter when he ramps up his Australian Guineas assault in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.Kavanagh was thrilled with Liveandletdie's first-up performance behind Enjin Number Nine when he just missed third, finishing alongside dual Group One winner Star Witness in last week's Listed Manfred Stakes (1300m)."If you had told me before the race that he would finish a head behind Star Witness I would have said that wo

Trainer Mark Kavanagh says promising three-year-old Liveandletdie will strip a lot fitter when he ramps up his Australian Guineas assault in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Kavanagh was thrilled with Liveandletdie's first-up performance behind Enjin Number Nine when he just missed third, finishing alongside dual Group One winner Star Witness in last week's Listed Manfred Stakes (1300m).

"If you had told me before the race that he would finish a head behind Star Witness I would have said that would do us," Kavanagh said.

"Had the race been 1200 metres it would have suited him better as the 1300 metres was a bit tough on him first-up.

"It was good effort and we will push forward."

Liveandletdie has always impressed Kavanagh as having good potential and looks better suited in Saturday's 1400m Group Three feature.

Last spring, two of his three starts were at stakes level.

He didn't handle the slow track when unplaced and beaten three lengths by Sistine Angel in the Group Three McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield but then won at Geelong and finished a creditable fifth to Hollowlea in the Group Two Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

After the Stutt, Liveandletdie was spelled to have extra time to mature and the signs are encouraging that he can take the next step in the autumn.

The son of Street Cry is owned by Laurence Eales who has enjoyed outstanding success with the stallion's progeny, including Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Cox Plate placegetter Whobegotyou who is a dual Group One winner of the Caulfield Guineas and Yalumba Stakes.

Out of unraced mare Janella, who is a sister to former Italian champion two-year-old and Dubai champion miler Lend A Hand, Liveandletdie cost $58,000 as an Inglis Sydney Classic Sale yearling.

Damien Oliver rode Liveandletdie for the first time in the Manfred and has stuck with the colt who is at $17 with Sportingbet Australia on Saturday.

Enjin Number Nine, who was so impressive in the Manfred, is the $3.65 favourite ahead of Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva ($6) and last Saturday's Group Two D'Urban Stakes (1400m) winner Dusty Star ($6).