Racing: Gran Sasso has breeding on his side in Stakes bid

Top trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith and owner-breeder Des Pope are set to combine for a second Sir John Monash Stakes victory today with in-form sprinter Gran Sasso who is closely related to their 2002 winner Rubitano.

Gran Sasso's dam Lady Soffel is a sister to former star sprinter Rubitano, both by Rubiton out of The Judge mare Mrs Soffel.

Lady Soffel won the first three of her six race starts for Mayfield-Smith including a victory at Sandown, while Rubitano was the standout of Mrs Soffel's seven winners to race with 11 wins from 21 starts.

Those victories included the 2002 Newmarket Handicap and Salinger Stakes, both at group one level, as well as the group two Caulfield Sprint, group three Bletchingly Stakes and two listed sprints at Caulfield including the Monash.

Gran Sasso has continued the family success with seven wins, nine seconds and three thirds for A$351,788 ($444,120) in prizemoney from 24 starts.

Today he tries to make it four straight wins following victories at Flemington over 1200m (twice) and 1000m and his preparation may continue into next month.

"It depends on how he runs at Caulfield but because he's doing it so easily if he won well and pulled up well it would be silly to put him out when there is a race like the Bletchingly Stakes not far away," Mayfield-Smith said.

"If you've got a fitness edge on most of the other horses coming back you might as well use it while you've got a horse going well."

The Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) is at Caulfield on August 1.

It wasn't until Gran Sasso was gelded at the start of his current campaign, and more patient riding tactics were employed, that he started to produce his best.

Jockey Chris Symons' association with the Dehere rising 5-year-old at his past four starts has also been significant.

Symons rode him third-up this preparation when he was beaten a head when runner-up to Midnight Mustang in the Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington on May 30 and has been unbeaten on him since.

Gran Sasso, placed once from three starts at Caulfield, has drawn barrier one in the eight-horse field for the 1100m weight-for-age feature in which one of his rivals is stablemate Orange County, the winner of the group one Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last September, who is resuming.

Craig Williams takes the mount on the grey who drew barrier two.

Damien Oliver, who has been in rare form in recent weeks, takes the mount on speedy filly Damselfly. She is unbeaten on the Caulfield track and races very well when fresh.

Gran Sasso was favourite at A$2.90 with TAB Sportsbet last night ahead of I Am Invincible at A$3.30, Damselfly (A$5), Orange County (A$6), Global Warming A$9 and Rubiton Stakes winner Mind Your Head at A$10.

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Trainer Peter White says front-runner Jungle Ruler is ready to win the race he won a year ago after regaining the weight he lost while in Brisbane earlier this campaign.

Last year Jungle Ruler won the Clamms Seafood Handicap at Caulfield as part of a winning hat-trick and is A$16 with TAB Sportsbet to repeat the victory today.

White said Jungle Ruler had trained on after returning from Queensland and his work this week had been spot-on.

Jungle Ruler has won 11 races and his last three successes have been over 1400m at Caulfield.

"If nothing takes him on and he can control the race then he will be hard to beat," White said.

- AAP