The $2 million Five Diamonds has long been circled as the main spring target for Rise At Dawn, with Lindsay Park confident the race conditions will bring out the best in their five-year-old. The stable has tailored his campaign specifically around Rosehill, and his draw on the inside only adds to their optimism.

Co-trainer Will Hayes said the team identified the race early as the perfect fit based on the gelding’s profile and progression.

“This has always been our grand final,” Hayes said.

“It’s a great concept — five-year-olds only, set weights and penalties — and we’ve felt all along that the 1800 metres would be right in his sweet spot.

“He’s a horse who thrives when he can maintain tempo and keep rolling, and Rosehill should let him do that.”

Rise At Dawn has performed admirably in his two Sydney starts to date. He finished just behind the placegetters in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) earlier in the year and was narrowly run down late in the Shannon Stakes (1500m) two runs ago.

Freshened since his third placing in the Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley, Hayes said the gelding simply didn’t handle the tight turning surface on Cox Plate Day.

“He just never quite got comfortable around the Valley,” he said.

“But his Doncaster run was elite, and on a big Rosehill track from a soft draw, we expect him to be able to sustain his gallop.”

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