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Trekking, Kementari and Savatiano to line up in Group 1.
Godolphin are well represented in Saturday's feature race at Eagle Farm, the Kingsford-Smith Cup (Gr 1, 1300m), with James Cummings training three of the 16 runners in Trekking (Street Cry), Kementari (Lonhro) and Savatiano (Street Cry).
Kementari has not raced since he finished sixth, beaten a length and a half, in the All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on April 24, while six-year-old mare Savatiano was beaten a nose in that race and scored a comfortable barrier trial victory at Randwick on May 13.
"It's going to be a tough race (but) I'm looking forward to it," said Nacim Dilmi, traveling assistant trainer at Godolphin.
"Savatiano, I've never had to do too much with her. I've had a lot to do with Trekking and I had Kementari in Perth and I brought his mojo back, so I don't know. If either of the three wins, I will be very happy."
Last year's The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Trekking has been below his best in two Brisbane starts so far, finishing fifth in the Victory Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 1 and he occupied that same position in the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m) two weeks later, but Dilmi said with a firmer track and being third up, there will be no excuses this time.
"First up we thought he was ready, but it looked like he needed the run, he had a big blow post-race," he said.
"Second up in the 10,000, Kerrin (McEvoy) said the track was a little too soft for him and that's when he peaked on his run. He was hardly beaten a length.
"The Eagle Farm track - he goes really well on it. Back on top of the ground his rider (Mark Hanneybell) was very pleased (on Tuesday morning). From what I saw it was strong work, he's pulled up really well and he will definitely give them a good shake on Saturday."
Stablemate Athiri is trying to bounce back from one of her worst career runs when she tackles the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Eagle Farm.
"She was a little bit wound up and had a bee in her bonnet behind the barriers," Dilmi said.
"She was vetted and Kerrin said the moment she went back into the barriers she was a totally different horse. A little bit sour.
"We gave her a good gallop on the A-grass (on Tuesday) and she worked really well, so James is happy to push on with her for Saturday."
Co-trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes meanwhile will be hoping So Si Bon (So You Think) can land his first Group 1 race in Saturday's Kingsford-Smith. Placed at Group 1 level on multiple occasions, the son of So You Think (High Chaparral) was last seen winning the VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) by two and a half lengths.
"He's fallen just short of the mark when we've had him in Group 1s but he's run some very good races at Group 1 level, so I certainly wouldn't put it past him," Dabernig told Racing.com.
"He's the sort of horse that, even when he gets beat, often the margin isn't too great so, if the race happened to go his way, he's certainly the horse that will be finishing strong."