Racing: Littorio in good form

SYDNEY: Trainer Nigel Blackiston believes Littorio's run in last Saturday's Australian Cup indicated the gelding is on target for his Sydney autumn missions.

They kick off today in the group one Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill while the group one A$2.25 million The BMW (2400m) at the same track two weeks later also awaits.

Littorio finished fifth in the Australian Cup at Flemington at only his third run back after being out of action for 10 months with bone soreness.

The 5-year-old arrived in Sydney this week and has taken no ill-effects from the run last week or the trip from Melbourne. "He travelled up beautifully," Blackiston said.

"I thought his run in the Australian Cup was super. He was caught wide but so was the winner [Zipping] and we followed him ... He sprinted and went past Zipping quite quickly but he maybe just got there too quickly and faded the last 100m."

- AAP