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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Paul Cave has seen a change in hardy six-year-old Monsieur Sisu and hopes his newfound toughness, mirroring that which his trainer is showing, can transfer to a deserved win at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Paul Cave (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The respected Irishman, 72, is recovering from multiple strokes, following what was routine surgery for a heart arrhythmia, and is relishing life at his Mulgoa farm as much as Monsieur Sisu did during his recent break.

While the gelding is yet to win this preparation his performances in three placings from as many starts tell Cave he shouldn’t be underestimated in the ACY Securities Handicap (2000m).

“When he spelled during the summer we pre-trained him up the hills on the farm and I think he just thrives on that,’’ Cave said.

“With older horses you play around and do something different for them.

“Some horses can cope with whatever you do with them, others you have to get into their mind and work out what it is.

“A happy horse is the best horse, this horse was out here roaming around on the property with undulating hills.

“You treat him as a hack and take him over some showjumps, pop them over a few hurdles, and it seems to have turned him around.”

Monsieur Sisu will carry 57kg after the claim for apprentice Louise Day, who has ridden the horse at his past five starts, and he appears likely to get his favoured soft to heavy ground.

Statistics will show Monsieur Sisu hasn’t won in 14 starts at Rosehill or in five tries at 2000m but his last two placings came at the track, the first time he has ever placed at Rosehill, which is confirmation of Cave’s assessment that he’s come back better than ever.

The gelding, $9 with TAB on Thursday, was softened up in the lead last start over 1800m and fought off all challengers only to be ambushed by the in-form Mubariz and Mr Dependable who kicked up on his inside.

“He’s the sort of horse that has taken time for the penny to drop and this time in it really has dropped. He wants to get to the line,’’ Cave said.

“He’s no champion but he’s pretty consistent and he puts in.

“If someone comes up to challenge him it doesn’t make him pull. He’s a lovely horse that way.

“He’s a peculiar horse too because when we train him on the track you have to send him with a mate even if it’s a canter, because he’s liable to prop and stop and whip around.

“He loves company, he’s a herd animal and if he was trained in Europe he’d love it.”

The Cave stable is in good form at the moment with Bowery Breeze posting another city win first-up at Warwick Farm on Monday.

As for his own health, Cave said he has his wife Martha, who herself was recovering from a broken leg, to thank for her quick thinking and recognising the signs of a stroke.

Monsieur Sisu runs third at Rosehill on June 5

He had the first stroke while out in the horse truck a couple of days after the heart arrhythmia operation.

“I went in for the operation and, bang, no problems. One night in hospital and two days later I had a bloody stroke. Three strokes,’’ Cave said.

“With the last one we were sitting at the TV on a Sunday and Martha said my speech was slurring and to get into the car immediately.

“She drove me to Nepean Hospital and I’m glad she did because they got onto it quickly. If an ambulance had to come it would have been twice as long.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting