Maher's trio eyes history in Sydney Cup with Mr Monaco leading

Mr Monaco, a breakout star in the staying division this autumn, continues as the top pick to secure Ciaron Maher his fourth Sydney Cup regardless of landing the outer gate.

Yet a potential upset could arise from within the stable, given the solid claims of Piggyback and Juja Kibo for the gruelling two-mile test.

The European arrival, now in his second local season, has proven his mettle and staying power with hard-fought successes in his most recent pair of races, notably the Manion Cup (2400m) where he endured a wide path from start to finish and still dominated.

According to Ciaron Maher's Sydney-based foreman Jo Gerard-Dubord, that effort signals the gelding's suitability to tackle the 3200m robustly come Saturday, bolstered by recollections of Circle Of Fire's 2024 Sydney Cup success from a like draw.

"When Circle Of Fire won it, he had a similar trip to what Mr Monaco did at Rosehill last start. He was three-wide and working a lot of the way," Gerard-Dubord said.

"And not dissimilar to Mr Monaco, Circle Of Fire was a genuine stayer. When you get to these races, if you can stay it's a big advantage because half the field won't be able to stay the trip."

Mr Monaco may be untested at 3200m, but Gerard-Dubord dismisses any stamina concerns based on the horse's strong finishing despite adversity last out.

"Last start, even though it was 2400 metres, he was wide, and he probably ran 2600. If anything, he was the strongest of them all through the line so that won't be an issue," he said.

Piggyback's preparation concluded with a fifth placing to Aeliana in the Tancred Stakes (2400m), a weight-for-age clash primed to have her ready for the Sydney Cup.

The foreman indicated Piggyback has returned as a superior mare this time and looks equipped to go the distance, aided by easing to 53kg.

"She's been handicapped at what she was at the start of the prep, and I think she has become a better horse since then. She is very well placed at the weights," Gerard-Dubord said.

"The Tancred is usually a good lead-up run for the Sydney Cup in terms of timing and the quality of the field, and she was very good in the Tancred.

"The two miles, I think she will stay it, and she's had the grounding for it, but it is more of a question mark. She is fit, she has a light weight and a good gate, so she will get every chance to run the trip."

Maher's third runner Juja Kibo brings a series of close finishes, with Gerard-Dubord attributing the five-year-old's need for racing to sharpen up.

"He is a horse who takes a lot of work and a lot of racing," he said.

"It has been the target from day one, the Sydney Cup, and the plan was to run in the Chairman's and back up in the Sydney Cup. He backed up well last prep (when third in the Metropolitan).

"The other day, he lacked that killer punch, but I think it was related to fitness, and he's rock-hard fit now."

Betting markets show no shift for Mr Monaco who sits at $5, with Juja Kibo next at $13 and Piggyback at $18.

Check leading online bookmakers for competitive Sydney Cup odds.