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By Ray Hickson

The result of Friday’s Listed $200,000 Darley Scone Cup (1600m) will strongly influence how trainer Terry Robinson tackles the spring with his stable star and reigning Kosciuszko champ Art Cadeau.

Trainer Terry Robinson (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Of course if the five-year-old can win the Cup, given where his benchmark rating sits, it will virtually vault him into the field for the $2 million The Big Dance which is run at Randwick on November 1.

First and second from 25 selected country cup races earn eligibility for the unique race with the winners awarded first preference in the ballot.

Robinson said if Art Cadeau ticks the mile box at Scone it will leave him with a big decision given he’s almost certain to be selected for another shot at the $1.3m The Kosciuszko (1200m) run just over two weeks before The Big Dance.

“We’ll make up our mind after Scone whether we freshen him for the Kosciuszko or if he goes well enough over the mile to be a realistic chance in The Big Dance,’’ Robinson said.

“I’ve always thought the horse would get further than 1200m but obviously he does sprint well fresh.

“I really think the mile journey will be his go later as his career goes on. We’ll let him tell us where he’s going to go but at least we have choices so it’s a good position to be in.”

After his Kosciuszko win in October, Art Cadeau produced the two worst runs of his career finishing near the tail in the Goulburn Cup and last in the Group 3 Festival Stakes.

Much to Robinson’s relief, the gelding proved he’s right back to his best with a Group 3 placing first-up in the Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) then an eye-catching second in a Benchmark 100 at Randwick on April 16.

“It was great to see, his second-up run was super and I think he is measuring up now,’’ he said.

“I don’t know what happened in those two runs after the Kosciuszko.”

Robinson is prepared to forgive Art Cadeau’s last start fifth in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m), where he started favourite and was beaten just under five lengths by Kirwan’s Lane.

He made his run wide on the track, which wasn’t the ideal place, and jockey Tommy Berry reported he wasn’t happy in the ground.

So the trainer hopes from his middle gate in the Scone Cup that Art Cadeau, $8 with TAB on Wednesday, can enjoy the type of run that will allow him to assess his prowess over the mile.

“I think his run at Hawkesbury was all right, he got caught three deep without cover so he still whacked away at his first try at a mile on a heavy track,’’ he said.

“It’s worth another go, if he can get a good run in transit hopefully we can find out.

“I really think the horse is better on soft or better going, I know he’s performed on heavy but I don’t think he is comfortable.

“The run the other day was still on a heavy track and Tommy did say he wasn’t quite comfortable when he hit a wet patch at the 300m.

“I’d like to see us on a better surface and that will be a better way to judge the horse.”

Art Cadeau runs fifth in the Hawkesbury Cup

Regardless of which race Robinson decides to target it’s likely the horse will be rested after the Scone Cup, that gives the trainer enough time to have him ready for the 1200m first-up in The Kosciuszko if that’s the way he decides to go.

He’s equal favourite at $6 with TAB alongside impressive Wagga Town Plate winner Front Page and if selected as expected would strive to be the first horse to defend a Kosciuszko crown.

“He’s run a hole in a Group race so if he’s up to Group company you’d think he’d definitely get a run in The Kosciuszko,’’ Robinson said.

“We don’t normally give him a long prep, I think he has got stronger and better every time he has come back and even though he is rising six he hasn’t had that many starts so he still has a good future.”

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Scone Cup meeting