ANGEL ROCK heads a busy weekend for the Marco Botti team when he lines up in the Group 2 Premio Ribot in Rome on Sunday.
It will be the four-time winner's toughest assignment to date but his trainer feels that his charge is in good form and can be competitive.
Botti said of the son of Rock of Gibraltar: "It's a hot race but we hope he can finish in the first three. He's in good shape and should love the (soft ground)."
11 runners have been declared for the mile contest and Angel Rock will be partnered by M Monteriso.
Also in action in Italy this Saturday will be Branderburgo in a Listed race and Aldovrandi - an unraced son of Cape Cross - in a maiden in Milan.
Re Barolo will be crossing the Irish Sea as he has been given the green light to contest the Listed Carlingford Stakes - over 1m 2f - at Dundalk on Saturday evening. The son of Cape Cross has won four times including a Listed race on the all-weather during the spring.
Botti said: "we are going there because the race is suitable for him. He could run at Lingfield next weekend but he may come up against Luca Cumani's Group 1 winner Presvis so we thought we'd go for this. It's a competitive race but he should run a good race."
On the home front Benedicte is the sole representative for Botti at the final turf meeting of the year at Doncaster on Saturday.
The daughter of Galileo lines up in the 1m 2f fillies' Listed race and connections are hoping she can improve on her last run and gain some valuable 'black type'.
Her trainer said: "She won her maiden at Chester before running quite well in a Listed race at Newmarket.
She went up 20Ibs for that run and should hopefully enjoy the soft ground on Saturday. I hope she can be competitive."
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