Steve Richards will be in Sydney this autumn on unfinished business.Three years ago the Victorian trainer brought Irazu north for a two-start autumn campaign and almost came away with some major spoils when the gelding beat all but Gallic in the Group One Sydney Cup.A Melbourne Cup dream was born but shattered just a few months later when Irazu injured his tendon.He was off the scene for more than a year then one start into his comeback the tendon went again."It was devastating the first time an

Steve Richards will be in Sydney this autumn on unfinished business.

Three years ago the Victorian trainer brought Irazu north for a two-start autumn campaign and almost came away with some major spoils when the gelding beat all but Gallic in the Group One Sydney Cup.

A Melbourne Cup dream was born but shattered just a few months later when Irazu injured his tendon.

He was off the scene for more than a year then one start into his comeback the tendon went again.

"It was devastating the first time and the second time I just couldn't believe it," Richards said.

"It was touch-and-go for a while there as to whether we brought him back but we decided to give him another crack. We thought he was worth it."

So far, so good.

After a second round of treatment and rehabilitation, Irazu returned for a spring campaign in Melbourne last year.

His leg stood up to a six-start preparation which included placings in the Moe and Moonee Valley Cups and a good third to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Lexus Stakes.

It was enough for Richards to make tentative plans for another autumn assault in Sydney and that will begin for Irazu on Saturday in the Listed NE Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

He has had four lead-up runs in Melbourne, the latest an encouraging third to Elmore over 2600 metres at Flemington, and appears well weighted with 53kg on Saturday.

"His form has been good and he is getting up to a distance now where he can be competitive," Richards said.

"I've got some unfinished business from 2007.

"What we're looking at is the Manion then the Chairman's Handicap and the Sydney Cup.

"To get there again will be a real challenge and if he can pull it off it will be a great story."

Richards will head to Sydney in grand form having captured last weekend's Group One Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville with filly Rostova.

He said she had come through her Adelaide win well and would join Irazu in Sydney for a hit-and-run mission.

"She will come up for the Galaxy at this stage," he said.

"Her win was very satisfying, it was a terrific day and she's come through it super."

The Group One The Galaxy (1100m) is at Randwick on April 17.

The NE Manion Cup attracted a final field of eight including Zagreb for David Hayes and the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence, early favourite for the Sydney Cup at $6 with TAB Sportsbet.