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By Ray Hickson

It’s taken import Vega Magnifico a bit more time than trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald had hoped to hit his straps but the prospect of another good track at Randwick on Saturday has the stable hopeful of a repeat.

Trainer Rob Archibald (Pic: Grant Guy)

There’s a touch of irony in the six-year-old having a preference for firmer ground given his win prior to landing in Australia was literally on a beach racecourse at Laytown in Ireland.

Rob Archibald said it was pleasing to see Vega Magnifico produce his best first-up and the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) is a suitable next step.

He qualifies it slightly by saying stablemate, and early favourite, Don Diego De Vega may be the one of the duo to reach greater heights this preparation.

“He was obviously excellent first-up, it set up nicely for him and he sat behind a good tempo and got over the top of them late,’’ Archibald said of Vega Magnifico, $3.90 with TAB on Thursday.

“He’s going up 100m and he’s got a good draw, Reece (Jones) did a fantastic job last start.

“It was nice to see him finish off the way he did, maybe being ridden that bit quieter helps.

“Hopefully we can get a similar result, he seems to have come through that run well and we expect another big run from him.”

Archibald suspects it was wet tracks that hampered him in his first preparation but it’s also well known that some imports hit the ground running while others take some time.

“When you go back through his form he ended up on a lot of soft tracks and in hindsight that’s gone against him a bit,’’ he said.

“His worst results have come on those tracks. Often in their second preparation they adapt a bit better and hopefully he can find some consistency this prep.”

Don Diego De Vega gave a sign of things to come in the winter with a first-up placing at Rosehill and a win under a big weight at Randwick, both over 1800m, and Archibald is rapt with how he’s returned.

The grey has trialled twice and James McDonald punched him out to win the latest of them over 1200m.

“I thought his two trials have been excellent. He may take a run to get going but he’s in really good order,’’ he said.

“We’re pretty confident about his chances and he’s going to get out over further in time. He’s run in Group races over a mile and a half.

“This is a good starting point and we have high hopes for him this prep.”

It’ll be a month between runs for Claim The Crown when he lines up in the Complete Freight Services Handicap (2000m) having been scratched from engagements in the past two weeks.

The six-year-old split Saltcoats and Bullets High when running second over the 2000m at Randwick and Archibald said the expectation is that he’ll hold his form.

Vega Magnifico wins at Randwick on January 4

“He gets a lovely draw and gets his chance. He’s been consistent and he’s going well,’’ he said.

“I thought he ran really well the other day and he gets no excuses from the draw.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting