Symons, who was ropable with Scott Seamer's ride on the classy colt in last Saturday's Group One Manikato Stakes, revealed today he'd hunted out proven big race jockey Damien Oliver to replace the part time macadamia grower.

"I'm obviously pretty happy to have Damien on my horse and he's pretty confident he can win on Sunday," Symons said.

Despite rising 200 metres in distance, Symons and the connections of the son of Royal Academy, are not concerned.

"The distance isn't a real problem," he said. "Of course he has to be rated better than he was last Saturday."

"In the Blue Diamond he went to the front and busted them up and got away with it," Symons recalled. "But it was never going to work on Saturday. He was up against some of the best sprinters in the country."

Since his second placing in the Manikato Stakes, Bel Esprit has pleased his trainer in his work at Macedon Lodge.

"He's done very well between runs," Symons summarised. "I'm very pleased with him."

Meanwhile, Symons is confident his promising three-year-old filly Macedon Lady will run well in the $150,750 Jumeirah International Plate (1400m) in her first run at Group level.

"I think she will run pretty good," Symons predicted. "But the others may be a little slick for her at this stage."

Symons indicated the filly would run in either the Edward Manifold Stakes or Thousand Guineas en route to the Group One Victorian Oaks.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

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