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By Adrian Sciglitano

Trainer Sterling Alexiou and jockey Josh Parr believe City Gold Banner ($2.50 favourite on TAB) can progress through the grades this preparation when he contests the Kembla Grange Autumn Racing Carnival Benchmark 64 (1500m) on Wednesday.

The three-year old son of Starspangledbanner couldn’t have been more impressive on debut, coming from the tail of the field over 1400m at Warwick Farm, with trainer Sterling Alexiou suggesting class got him over the line on a rain-affected surface he didn’t love.

“He is a big strong colt and as a rule, just in his stature I imagine he will be a lot better on top of the ground; he probably just got away with that race the other day on class alone,” Alexiou said.

City Gold Banner (Josh Parr) ploughs through the going to score at Warwick Farm. Image by Bradley Photographers

“Obviously, it is hard to go from a maiden to a Benchmark 64, albeit he is dropping back to the provincials, but he takes on some seasoned gallopers so it will be a good test for him.

“We think he is a progressive galloper, so if he can get things run to suit and build his momentum at the right I’m sure he will be right in the finish.”

What impressed raceday rider Josh Parr the most on debut was City Gold Banner’s ability to show versatility with his position in run, a contrast from what was seen in his early barrier trials when settling near the speed.

“His debut performance was really good in the sense we expected him to show barrier speed, and bowl along on the speed," Parr said.

“He had to be versatile on that occasion and he did that really well, coming from the back of the field on wet ground and he was really good. I expect another forward showing from him,” Parr added.

Based on his debut win, Parr said he can ride the colt with an open book from a tricky gate and has confidence the horse is heading in the right direction in his first preparation.

“It doesn’t really matter [where he settles] now that we know he has that versatility, he has raced forward in his trials and back in his first start, and the beauty of that is I can be guided by how the track is playing and the speed of the race to how I ride him.

“He is still very raw, although he is a horse that has indicated to the stable and myself that he is heading in the right direction."

Where he ends up this preparation is still a work in progress for the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou stable, however, a crack at stakes grade is not out of the equation if City Gold Banner continues to raise the bar.

“He is mentally and physically mature enough to throw in the deep end [Stakes grade].

“We will maybe look for a midweek race and then some of those races back off the top, possibly a South Pacific Classic [1400m Listed race] or a Hawkesbury Guineas [Group 3 1400m] may suit him down the line,” Alexiou said.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here