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Kris Lees says Danceteria shows all the attributes of a genuine Group 1 horse.
But he adds the Australian Bloodstock import will need to be to beat a class line-up in Saturday's $600,000 wfa Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick at his first start for him.
Danceteria, a Group 1 winner in Germany last year, makes his debut for his new trainer in the opening Group 1 of the Sydney autumn.
Kerrin McEvoy will ride Danceteria, who has drawn the outside in the 14-horse field but Lees was unconcerned.
"He'll get back anyway," he said.
Danceteria , a Redoute's Choice five-year-old, finished last in the $5m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 29 at his first Australian start for his former UK trainer David Menuisier.
He was slow to begin and was subsequently found to have pulled up with a respiratory issue.
"Danceteria is a nice horse with an excellent record overseas (winning seven of his 17 starts to date)," Lees said.
"I'm pleased with how he is progressing. He has been working well and I expect him to run well, but whatever he does on Saturday he will take improvement from the race."
Danceteria won first-up in Listed company in France over 1800m in April last year, having not raced since early November the previous year.
Two starts later he scored – again in France – over 2000m in Group 3 company – before stepping right up in class and finishing fourth (eight ran) to champion mare Enable in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes (2002m) at Sandown (UK).
He then comfortably beat seven rivals over 2000m in Group 1 company in Germany on July 28 before coming to Australia.
Lees will rely on another Australian Bloodstock import Attention Run (stablemate Mongolian Wolf runs at Doomben instead) in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (2000m), and is looking for a strong performance to boost her claims as a Sydney Cup prospect.
Hugh Bowman will be a new rider for the former German mare, who made a winning Australian debut over 1600m on heavy ground at Randwick last July.
Subsequently, she was runner-up in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) in September and beaten only one and a half lengths when seventh to Come Play With Me in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick in early October.
Attention Run resumed when fifth to Gaulois over 1600m at Warwick Farm on February 12.
"She didn't have a hard run that day, and that may result in her just needing this race to bring her along further," Lees said.
"But I expect her to run well all the same. On her Newcastle Cup and Metropolitan performances last year, she could emerge as a lightweight Sydney Cup hope."
El Dorado Dreaming (Brenton Avdulla) resumes in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).
"I preferred this race to the 1400m mares' race (Group 2 Guy Walter Proven Thoroughbreds Stakes) mainly because of her lighter weight (54.5kg)," Lees said.
"She is coming up nicely this preparation."
Whilst Lees begins his quest for a third Provincial Championships quest on his home track on Saturday, he is looking to Asharani and Juventus – who both contest the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick – to bolster his hopes of winning the annual series for a third time.
"Most likely they will both go to the Kembla Grange qualifier on March 21 after this race," he said.
. With Juventus withdrawn from a Canterbury engagement tomorrow night, Azarmin and Bedivere will carry the stable's hopes at the last meeting of the night racing season.
Azarmin (Louise Day) and Bedivere (James McDonald) both contest the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m) for three and four-year-olds.
"Azarmin is stepping up to city class, whilst Bedivere was good when second at Canterbury a fortnight ago and is working up to another win," Lees said.
