Trainer Stephen Miller gained a lot of confidence out of No Apology’s previous run and believes it’s a strong indicator the six-year-old is reaching peak form from last year.
No Apology ran a top second in the Detonator Stakes (1800m), beaten 1 ½ lengths, when he worked home strongly from third position to chase down Marocchino.
Marocchino is in rare form, claiming the A.J.Scahill Stakes (2100m), Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) and Detonator Stakes from his past three races at Ascot.
Trainer Lou Luciani has taken the six-year-old across to Melbourne for a tilt at Saturday’s Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) at Flemington.
While Marocchino went east, No Apology stayed home and will go up against nine rivals in Saturday’s Listed Furphy Bunbury Cup (2100m).
“No Apology’s run the other day (Detonator) was good and he’s come through it well,” Stephen Miller told Tabradio.
“Last campaign he had a freakish run and he’s come back pretty much the same horse.
“He seems to be thriving and enjoying his races.
“Realistically he was a wet tracker before but is competing well on dry tracks.
“Even though he is up in the ratings he seems to be holding his own.
“There is no thrills to him, he’s just a honest, good horse.”
No Apology has drawn barrier two and will be ridden by Lucy Warwick.
At $3.30 he sits on the second line of Tabtouch betting behind Casino Seventeen $2.20.
No Apology won the Coolgardie Cup (1760m) and placed second in the Boulder Cup (2100m) and Kalgoorlie Cup (2200m) last September.
No Apology will be joined in the Bunbury Cup by stable mate General Grant.
General Grant ran eighth in the Detonator Stakes but will appreciate a rise in distance.
“The distance is the big thing in his favour,” Miller said.
“He laps it up from 2000m onwards and I expect him to show improvement.”
General Grant will jump from barrier eight. He’s $18 with Tabtouch and jockey Shaun McGruddy partners.
Miller also expects a big performance from Last Of The Line in the Tabtouch Bunbury Stakes (1400m).
The Blackfriars gelding resumes after winning a warm up trial. He carries the 59kg topweight and has drawn the second widest gate (10).
“He needed the trial,” Miller said.
“He has a couple of things against him, but is a pretty classy horse.
“I’m expecting him to go well first up.”
Last Of The Line is rated a $7 chance with betr.com.au. Brad Parnham rides.