Quality New Zealand galloper El Roca has settled into Melbourne ready to begin a campaign aimed at Group One success to boost his stallion prospects.
El Roca resumes in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday with the Memsie Stakes at the same track later this month the first Group One in trainer Trent Busuttin's sights.
El Roca was placed twice at Group One level during the Sydney autumn in the Randwick Guineas and George Ryder Stakes and Busuttin said the son of Fastnet Rock had put on condition in his break and had settled into Melbourne well after arriving at the weekend.
"He'll strip fit enough to be competitive on Saturday but has got plenty of upside in him," Busuttin said.
"Obviously he's got a big campaign ahead of him. He won't be screwed down 100 per cent on Saturday but we're very happy with him."
Busuttin says a Group One is the main aim with El Roca, and he is confident he can achieve it, but options are open as to which big races he targets.
"If he runs well on Saturday we'll head to the Memsie and then there are several options," he said.
Although there has already been interest from breeders, Busuttin says the horse's owners have elected to keep him racing for the time being.
"I'm sure if he wins that Group One the money would be too big for them to turn down. But at this stage they are quite happy to keep racing the horse," he said.
Hugh Bowman, who rode El Roca to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes and in his Group One autumn placings, will be aboard on Saturday.
El Roca and multiple Group One winner Moment Of Change headline 16 nominations for the Regal Roller Stakes with El Roca to carry 58.5kg, while Moment Of Change has been given 62kg.
Moment Of Change is unbeaten in four starts over the 1400 metres at Caulfield, three times at Group One level.
El Roca's Caulfield experience consists of a second in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last spring and a luckless fifth in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m).