Emerging as a key stayer this autumn, Mr Monaco retains favouritism to hand Ciaron Maher a fourth Sydney Cup victory despite the challenging wide draw.

A stablemate might yet steal the show, though, with Piggyback and Juja Kibo both boasting compelling cases for the stamina-sapping two-miler.

Since importing from Europe for his current Australian spell, Mr Monaco has exhibited determination and lasting power through victories in his last two efforts, standing out in the Manion Cup (2400m) as he pressed forward wide and ultimately proved too strong.

Jo Gerard-Dubord, foreman for Ciaron Maher in Sydney, views that run positively for the gelding covering 3200m effectively on Saturday, inspired also by Circle Of Fire prevailing in the 2024 Sydney Cup from a parallel barrier.

“When Circle Of Fire won it, he had a similar trip to what Mr Monaco did at Rosehill last start. He was three-wide and working a lot of the way,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“And not dissimilar to Mr Monaco, Circle Of Fire was a genuine stayer. When you get to these races, if you can stay it’s a big advantage because half the field won’t be able to stay the trip.”

Without 3200m form, Gerard-Dubord remains confident in Mr Monaco’s staying prowess after his dominant close last start amid difficulties.

“Last start, even though it was 2400 metres, he was wide, and he probably ran 2600. If anything, he was the strongest of them all through the line so that won’t be an issue,” he said.

The Tancred Stakes (2400m) served as Piggyback’s final tune-up, where she was fifth to Aeliana in weight-for-age company ideal for sharpening her for the Sydney Cup.

Gerard-Dubord highlighted how the mare has improved upon her return and seems primed for the trip, benefiting from 53kg.

“She’s been handicapped at what she was at the start of the prep, and I think she has become a better horse since then. She is very well placed at the weights,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“The Tancred is usually a good lead-up run for the Sydney Cup in terms of timing and the quality of the field, and she was very good in the Tancred.

“The two miles, I think she will stay it, and she’s had the grounding for it, but it is more of a question mark. She is fit, she has a light weight and a good gate, so she will get every chance to run the trip.”

Juja Kibo fills out the Maher entry, carrying multiple placings into the race, as Gerard-Dubord notes the five-year-old thrives on racing to hit top fitness.

“He is a horse who takes a lot of work and a lot of racing,” he said.

“It has been the target from day one, the Sydney Cup, and the plan was to run in the Chairman’s and back up in the Sydney Cup. He backed up well last prep (when third in the Metropolitan).

“The other day, he lacked that killer punch, but I think it was related to fitness, and he’s rock-hard fit now.”

Mr Monaco stays locked in at $5 in betting, ahead of Juja Kibo ($13) and Piggyback ($18).

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