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Former UK galloper starts his second campaign for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable are set to claim their first Melbourne Metropolitan Trainer's Premiership and are hoping to increase their lead at Flemington.
They have imported galloper Bartholomeu Dias making his return in the Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap (1600m) on Saturday as the gelding enters his second campaign for the stable.
Bartholomeu Dias made his Australian debut at Caulfield in May last year and followed up the following month to score at Sandown, his only win in nine starts for the stable.
Maher is excited by Bartholomeu Dias' hopes on Saturday and is confident the gelding can have a successful campaign.
A winner over distances ranging from 1905m up to 2504m in the UK before coming to Australia, Bartholmeu Dias was tried over a mix of distances in his first campaign for Maher and Eustace.
He was spelled after finishing fourth in the Torney Cup over 2500m at The Valley in February and tuned up for his return by chasing home Streets Of Avalon in a barrier trial at Traralgon last week.
"He's trialled well, was sharp and I like the way he's come up," Maher said.
"He ran well first-up and then won second-up, but then didn't quite hold that level of form through the campaign.
"He seems to have come up really well. The aim we've got for him at the moment is to get him through the grades and rise up in the ratings.
"He's a nice horse, he's got the ability, but it's about sneaking him through and placing him in the right company.
"But he's in at the right time of year to make some progression."
There has been a little nibble with TAB for Bartholomeu Dias who has firmed from $23 into $21 for Saturday's race with the Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned Degraves holding favouritism at $2.70.
