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By Ray Hickson

There’s a touch of excitement in jockey Regan Bayliss about the future of promising two-year-old Kibou and he’s keen to see the youngster confirm his view in the ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Regan Bayliss (Pic: Steve Hart)

Bayliss said the gelding is very much a work in progress, and is adamant at three he will come into his own, but continues to see improvement in the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott prepared galloper.

It was evident to him when Kibou returned from his spring preparation and again in his runaway first-up win at Warwick Farm earlier this month.

“He’s improved massively from his first preparation into his second,’’ Bayliss said.

“In the Breeders’ Plate he wanted to run off the track. He’s always had a lot of talent but was always very immature and very raw.

“He’s still doing a few things wrong which tells me there is still a lot of upside, especially when he’s a three-year-old, and I think the best is yet to come from him.

“With each gallop and each race he’s going to take that next step so it’s exciting.”

Kibou managed to take the job of chasing a tearaway leader over 1100m at Warwick Farm in his stride and Bayliss said while he was obviously still very green when he hit the lead it was a perfect set up for the first-up win.

The runner-up Ramones confirmed the form with a gallant second at Kensington midweek.

“I was able to get him comfortable and it was good to have a bunny to chase that day,’’ Bayliss said.

“There was a strong headwind at Warwick Farm at that meeting. When he went past Allan Denham’s horse he really sprinted quickly, we had to come to the middle of the track so he didn’t have a rail to follow and he was still green but put away a nice field.”

It’s a very different task for Kibou at Rosehill, where he was $2.80 with TAB on Thursday, as he steps up in trip to 1400m and onto a good track but Bayliss said it affords him the opportunity to travel that little bit easier in the run.

There’s no doubt that Bayliss will position Kibou on the speed somewhere and he wouldn’t be afraid to lead if that’s what unfolds.

“The 1400m will suit him because I’ll be able to put the bridle in his mouth once we find our spot and get him to switch off,’’ he said.

“I reckon it won’t pose a threat to him, he’s a big striding horse and I think potentially he will get further as a three-year-old.

“Hopefully we can find that nice spot early and get him into a nice rhythm, that will be the key to his chances on Saturday. I’d be quite happy to lead, he’s quite versatile so if it comes to him having to sit outside one then that’s no problem.”

Colour Sergeant is another horse Bayliss believes has a bright future and he’s upbeat about the Matt Smith-trained import’s chances in the Roger Norton Handicap (2000m).

Still in his first Australian preparation, the gelding has performed consistently with two wins from his past four starts and was an eye-catching third at Canterbury on a heavy track last Wednesday week.

Kibou wins at Warwick Farm on June 1

“He drew an awkward barrier the other day and he was three weeks between runs and going up in trip,’’ Bayliss said.

“So we just had to take our medicine and ride him quiet. There wasn’t much tempo and we didn’t get a good cart into the race and he was still able to rattle home strongly.”

While stepping into Benchmark 78 level for the first time, Colour Sergeant drops 4kg and has drawn to allow Bayliss to sit a bit closer if possible.

“He gets a lovely barrier, he’s not going to be that far off the speed, and the rise to 2000m doesn’t pose a threat as well so I think he is a good chance,’’ he said.

“He’s on the way up, he’s getting better with each start and I think in the future, whether it’s Saturday or not, he’ll be winning races a lot higher grade than this race.”

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