Sircconi will start a campaign that trainer Nick Ryan hopes may lead to a Group 1 contest in Brisbane at Sandown on Saturday.

The only thing that will stop Sircconi making his racetrack return at Sandown will be if the track is too firm.

Sircconi has been allotted 60kg for his return run over 1400m on Saturday, but trainer Nick Ryan said the gelding will not take his place if the track is too firm.

On Tuesday the track was rated Soft, but warmer weather, up to 24c, is forecast later in the week.

Sircconi has been plagued by niggles throughout his career and hasn’t raced since finishing 13th behind Mr Quickie in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield last spring.

“He needed a good break as he pulled-up a bit ordinary from the Toorak with the track hardening up throughout the day,” Ryan said.

“He had a really good break, he’s really fresh and well.”

Ryan had Sircconi entered for last week’s Listed Anniversary Vase at Caulfield but decided on another week’s work.

That extra time enabled Ryan to give Sircconi a jump-out at Werribee on Monday.

“He went well,” Ryan said.

“It was a pretty sharp heat and he did what was asked of him and more importantly he pulled-up well this morning.

“He was down the beach and he’s set to kick off his campaign, so long as it’s (the track) not a road.”

Ryan has plans of heading to Queensland with Sircconi where the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12 is the potential target.

Sircconi showed his true colours last campaign, winning the Listed Winter Championship (1600m) at Flemington then two starts later finishing second to Savatiano in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

French-bred former Hong Kong galloper Dice Roll, also entered in Saturday’s 1400m handicap, will bypass the race and may trial at Cranbourne on Monday instead.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au