Bianco Vilano bound for Flemington

A trip to Flemington was not Ron Stubbs' first preference with Bianco Vilano, but the Albury trainer is more than happy to have a $150,000 event at Australia's most famous racecourse as a back-up option for the Riverina's newest Cups King.

Providing there is no repeat of the weather that caused Bianco Vilano's scratching from Randwick last Saturday, the seven-year-old will take his place in this Saturday's 2000-metre benchmark 100.

"We intended running at Randwick on Saturday but then when the track got into the Heavy range we decided not to go and Flemington was always the next option," Stubbs said.

"If the weather Gods are good to us, we'll definitely be there.

"He'll have to carry the weight, but let's hope he's good enough to do it."

Bianco Vilano is the highest-rated horse among 28 entries for Saturday's race, up to 102 after back-to-back wins in the Albury Cup and Wagga Cup, both Listed events over 2000m.

His potential rivals at Flemington include 100-raters Smokin Romans and Zahraan, Brayden Star, Bold Soul, Pounding and Kingofwallstreet, who hasn't started since his fourth placing in the 2024 Victoria Derby.

Bianco Vilano is yet to win anti-clockwise, but did finish runner-up in the 2023 Wodonga Cup, has run well at Flemington on the past and was a convincing winner of a trial at the Caulfield Heath track in between his recent Cup wins.

"If you pushed me, I'd say we'd prefer to go the New South Wales way but, by the same token, he ran a nice fourth at Flemington a prep or two ago, so I'm really not concerned about that," Stubbs said.

"You've got plenty of time once you get straightened and balance up, so if you can't do it there (Flemington), then you're never going to do it."

Stubbs is no stranger to winning in Melbourne, with Sparring and Boss Lady Rocks both multiple winners at Moonee Valley in recent seasons, but he is after just his third Flemington success and first since Spunlago's win in May 2019.