Greg McFarlane is hoping to use Jungle Rocket's summer campaign as a springboard to a Group One Sydney Cup preparation next autumn.The trainer says Jungle Rocket is a "true stayer" and warned a much fitter mare would step out on Sunday in search of a Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) victory at Randwick.Jungle Rocket won the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March last year.She hasn't found the winners' stall in 11 starts since then and the Summer Cup will be just her third start for the McFarl

Greg McFarlane is hoping to use Jungle Rocket's summer campaign as a springboard to a Group One Sydney Cup preparation next autumn.

The trainer says Jungle Rocket is a "true stayer" and warned a much fitter mare would step out on Sunday in search of a Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) victory at Randwick.

Jungle Rocket won the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March last year.

She hasn't found the winners' stall in 11 starts since then and the Summer Cup will be just her third start for the McFarlane stable.

The five-year-old finished fifth of eight over 1550m in November at her first start for her new stable and then the Rosehill trainer stepped her up sharply in distance in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m).

The daughter of Jungle Pocket finished third to Summer Cup rivals Bellagio Wynn and Rock Kingdom as a $41 outsider.

She was a $17 Summer Cup chance with TAB Sportsbet on Friday.

"She has come out of the Christmas Cup run fitter and she's looking good heading into this race," McFarlane said.

"This is just a starter preparation and the autumn carnival will be her aim.

"The Sydney Cup will be her main aim, that's in our sights."

McFarlane is yet to taste success at stakes level in his short training career but took confidence out of Jungle Rocket's Christmas Cup showing.

"There's no doubts she'll get the distance, she's a true stayer and probably one of the few true stayers in the race," he said.

"I definitely took confidence out of her last run, she showed what she can do. She was showing that on the training track and I was confident and that's why I stepped her up from 1550 to 2400 metres.

"She probably had the hardest run of the race and I thought she performed best for the run she had."

Jungle Rocket began awkwardly in the Christmas Cup and was then buffeted between two runners and lost ground shortly after the start.

The mare then charged around the field to take up the running at the 1800m mark before Strike One retook the lead resulting in Jungle Rocket being back on the fence in third place to the turn.

As the field raced for home several runners went past Jungle Rocket in the early part of the straight before she rallied over the final 200m and worked to the line to grab third.

A similar field awaits on Sunday with six of the first seven across the line in the Christmas Cup again lining up.

"It's a similar field but she's up a level on where she was two weeks ago," McFarlane said.

"She'll be running well."