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Untapped colt brings brilliant formline into Flemington support race.
Mathew De Kock had to make the painful decision to scratch Rey Magnerio from Saturday's Newmarket Handicap, but his disappointment could be eased slightly by the return of one of the more exciting members of the stable.
Akicita will have his first start since early September in the $150,000 Cirka Plate that kicks off the Flemington card.
The son of Grunt was a brilliant winner at Pakenham on debut then headed to Sandown, where he was a narrow runner-up in the benchmark 64 grade.
Winner of that race was Southport Tycoon, who won last week's Group 1 Australian Guineas, and a distant - albeit unlucky - third was Snow Patrol, who defeated Southport Tycoon in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes.
"We're exciting and nervous to see him back," De Kock said.
"We're just hoping that he can live up to that formline of Southport Tycoon, which is obviously outstanding form."
Akicita has drawn the second outside barrier in the nine-horse event over 1100 metres, but has just 54kg with Jye Mcneil to ride.
He has been given a solid grounding for his return, including a jumpout at Cranbourne on each of the past three Mondays and De Kock said there is even more improvement to come out of his first-up run.
"He's had a few stop-start issues, just immaturity issues, but he's in good order now," De Kock said.
"He's grown into a very big colt, so I reckon he's going to take a run or two to get back to his peak level and it is only the racing that is going to bring him on."
Akicita is now one of two runners on the day for De Kock and his training partner Robbie Griffiths, who lost his shot at a second Newmarket win after Rey Magnerio was withdrawn on Thursday due to a bruised heel.
Their other runner is Sandown Guineas winner Serasana, who will continue her preparation in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes after a first-up third placing behind Sassy Boom and So Glamorous under 58.5kg in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m).
"She looked like she did her best work through the line first-up, so we were happy and comfortable with the run," De Kock said.
"She gave away weight to first and second and now we're at level weights with them, so we're hoping that's in our favour."
Serasana drops to 56kg in the set-weights Kewney Stakes with John Allen to ride from barrier seven in the field of 13.
