Trainer Anthony Cummings is confident that Mr Bogart can record his maiden race win in the 2014 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

Mr Bogart finished second behind Valentia in the Skyline Stakes at Royal Randwick on March 15. Photo by: Steve Hart

Mr Bogart made his racing debut in The Ritz Cinema Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22 and did plenty wrong to finish fifth before producing a much improved effort behind Valentia in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on March 15.

Cummings told TVN yesterday that Mr Bogart had very little luck in the Skyline Stakes, after being blocked for a run on several occasions in the final stages of the race, and is expecting the Northern Meteor colt to perform strongly this weekend.

“He was a bit unlucky last time,” Cummings said.

“He was held-up and when he finally got out he had no momentum.

“He was only beaten a neck) and I think that will prove to be good form.

“He worked really well here this morning and he goes into the race with his best chance of winning a race.”

The winner of the Pago Pago Stakes is exempt for the ballot for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and the Group 2 event has drawn a strong field of colts and geldings.

Gai Waterhouse-trained Mr Cha Cha is currently sitting just outside the 2014 Golden Slipper field, at number 20 in the ballot, and will need to win the Pago Pago Stakes this weekend to secure a start in the $3.5 million event.

Mr Cha Cha made his racing debut with a win at Wyong on January 23 and performed well in the Listed Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 15 before finishing a narrow second behind Lucky Raquie in the Listed Black Opal Stakes (1200m).

Another runner sure to garner interest in the 2014 Pago Pago Stakes field is $2.4 million colt Wilderness, who can still be included as a late entry in the Golden Slipper.

Wilderness made his racing debut with a fourth place finish behind Eloping in the VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo on March 15, but trainer David Hayes is expecting an improved effort in the Pago Pago Stakes this weekend.

Other key Pago Pago Stakes runners include the Gerald Ryan-trained duo of Klammer and Time For War, debut winner Kuro and Paul Perry-trained Modoc.