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By Ray Hickson

Ayrton has been stabled not too far from Five Diamonds favourite Ellsberg while he’s been based in Sydney so co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr says he doesn’t have to look far to find the horse to beat in Saturday’s feature at Rosehill.

Like Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr's Golden Rose winner Jacquinot and last year’s Golden Eagle winner I’m Thunderstruck, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s stables have been Ayrton’s home away from home.

The co-trainer is quietly confident his smart gelding can knock over his host but concedes it’s going to take a flawless ride from Sam Clipperton to get the job done.

“We’re very fortunate to have them look after us,’’ he said.

“He’s the horse to beat, he has a beautiful draw and we have to contend with a wide-ish gate.

“Ayrton is a big, long striding, horse who likes to build his revs before entering the straight. I think he’s more effective when he’s nearer the pace and builds his momentum.

“He’s never looked better, never carried more condition, and I hope we’re right but I do think we will see a really good effort.”

While Ayrton, $8 with TAB on Thursday, was beaten just under three lengths into fourth by Ellsberg when they met at Randwick three weeks ago, the ground wasn’t in his favour so Kent Jnr said it was definitely a pass mark.

He sat wide in that race, the Five Diamonds Prelude over 1500m, and was only denied third by the bob of the head.

Ayrton runs fourth in the Five Diamonds Prelude on October 15

A look back at his previous run, a one length second to I Wish I Win, on a good 4 is a pointer that gives the trainer some confidence the $2m Five Diamonds (1800m) is not beyond him.

“He ran honestly but for him the track that day was totally against his chances. He is a real dry track horse,’’ he said.

“First-up on a track at Sandown he was touched off by the Golden Eagle winner and he had a tough-ish run that day.

“When he missed the Rupert Clarke due to the wet track we sent him to Sydney and it worked out nicely that we’ve ended up here. I think it all bodes well for him, third-up on a good track.

“We haven’t seen him at 1800m bar one run on a heavy track, I would think he will get it and we’re very confident.

“He’s had a perfect three weeks between runs and is ready to go.”

Meanwhile, Golden Rose winner Jacquinot is paddock bound after finishing midfield, only beaten four lengths, in last weekend’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

While he ran a solid fifth in the TAB Everest, Kent Jnr said his best trip is the 1400m and will be set towards races at that trip next year.

“He’s very effective over 1200m as we saw in the Everest and he was a bit unlucky in the Coolmore,’’ he said.

“You’d be looking at those 1400m Group 1s in the autumn for him.”

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