“She is really well and I am happy with her so on a decent track she will have a big race.”
Levante has drawn slightly wide at barrier 13 but to start from 12, although her natural racing pattern would suggest that is not an issue.
She does, however, meet some high-class rivals including Fangirl, who was second in the race that Levante was fifth in last start, while the intrigue comes from outstanding former UK mare Alcohol Free.
She won at the highest level in the UK before being purchased for the second highest price for a racehorse at a European sale — $5.4 million guineas ($11 million) last year.
Alcohol Free has won her sole Australian trial for new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and has James McDonald in the saddle so her performance will be fascinating.
The other highlight will be Kiwi fillies Pennyweka and Polygon in the Oaks. Pennyweka was a late entry for trainer Jim Wallace after bolting away with an average New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 18.
She arrives in Sydney an in-form proven stayer who can handle any track conditions and like Levante has the services of Damian Lane against what is not a vintage local crop.
So too will be Polygon if the Randwick track has more give than in her last two Australian starts, as she was seventh behind Prowess in the Vinery last start and could be the each-way value on Saturday.
The other big-name Kiwi representative on Saturday is talented juvenile filly Ethereal Star who makes her Australian debut in the A$1 million Percy Syke against only nine Australian rivals and keeps up the theme of New Zealand galloping stars with Lane in the saddle.
“She has travelled well and is ready to go but it is impossible to line up the form,” says her trainer Andrew Forsman. “But I think she will go well.”