Vlad Duric says Master O'Reilly won't be at his top until the Australian Cup but hasn't ruled out the stayer pinching a cheque when he resumes in the Group One Orr Stakes.Duric told trainer Danny O'Brien on Tuesday that the six-year-old could not have worked any better and that he was on track for a big campaign which includes a trip to Dubai for the $7.7 million Sheema Classic (2400m) on March 29.Master O'Reilly is one of the outsiders in Sunday's Orr Stakes (1400m) and while he has never won f

Vlad Duric says Master O'Reilly won't be at his top until the Australian Cup but hasn't ruled out the stayer pinching a cheque when he resumes in the Group One Orr Stakes.

Duric told trainer Danny O'Brien on Tuesday that the six-year-old could not have worked any better and that he was on track for a big campaign which includes a trip to Dubai for the $7.7 million Sheema Classic (2400m) on March 29.

Master O'Reilly is one of the outsiders in Sunday's Orr Stakes (1400m) and while he has never won first-up he has been placed on three of five occasions when coming back from a spell.

Duric said the gelding could rattle some of the big names but would need to "run out of his skin" to figure in the finish.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see him run into the money but if he passes half of them in the straight I would be rapt," Duric said.

"He is going well at the moment.

"After he worked on Tuesday I told Danny he doesn't work any better than that.

"We are looking at him more towards the St George Stakes and the Australian Cup.

"He seems so free and happy right now. He has really bounced back from the Melbourne Cup."

Master O'Reilly was beaten only 2-1/2 lengths when fourth to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup.

Duric said that Flemington suited Master O'Reilly best despite him having won the 2007 Caulfield Cup.

"Back to Flemington over 2000 metres will really suit him," Duric said.

Last spring over the Australian Cup course Master O'Reilly finished second to Littorio in the Turnbull Stakes.

"He is so much better once he gets over 2000 metres," Duric said.

"The Australian Cup is his race here and then he can go to Dubai."

Four of the last five Orr Stakes winners were first-up and Master O'Reilly is one of eight of the 12 runners on Sunday who fit that criterion.

Others are Maldivian, Sirmione, Theseo, Fiumicino, Alamosa, Baughurst and Zarita.

In 2007 El Segundo won the Orr second-up after winning the Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley and he follows the same path this year after coming back from a tendon injury.

Having his first run for 15 months, the seven-year-old was an eye-catching fifth to Lucky Secret in last month's Carlyon and has since pleased trainer Colin Little with his progress.

"He is really solid and he's going well," Little said.

If successful again El Segundo would join Lord (1959-60), Manikato (1979-81), Vo Rogue (1988-90) as the only multiple Orr Stakes winners.