According to trainer Brett Partelle, Torio's Quest is in the shape he needs to be to win the Shannon Stakes

Brett Partelle has spent plenty of time spruiking the chances of his stable star Torio’s Quest and he’s showing no signs of letting up as the Shannon Stakes draws closer.

That’s despite a crack list of horses being released at the nominations stage and while it won’t be a capacity field there are still plenty to worry about.

Descarado, Fast Clip, Older Than Time, Secret Admirer and Triple Honour are just some of the horses Torio’s Quest will have to deal with if he is to win the Group 2 event.

Still, Partelle is unconcerned as says his horse is in the shape he needs to be to win the race.

“He’s done terrific, couldn’t be happier with him, finished off his last serious work this morning and couldn’t be happier with him,” he said.

Torio’s Quest is coming off a solid first up performance where he ran a tight second to Master Of Design  in the Sebring Sprint.

“Everything’s falling into place…we purposely targeted him for the Cox Plate…that’s when he’ll hit his peak on that day.”

“He’s improved immensely since his first up run and I’m sure he’ll be very hard to beat on Saturday.”

Partelle is probably having somewhat of an each way bet with the horse this campaign, he looks good enough to win already up in Sydney but not at the expense of the features events to come later in the carnival.

“He’s an exciting horse and only a wet track and injury would stop him, I think he can win one of these major ones in Melbourne,” he said.

While the Cox Plate is the ultimate aim and a race they’d love to see him in, they will only make a final acceptance should he prove he’s a genuine winning threat.

“To be serious he’d have to win the Toorak or have a flashing finish on him to be competitive in the Cox Plate,” Partelle said.

As it stands Torio’s Quest will run this weekend in the Shannon Stakes before heading south for the Toorak Handicap, those two runs deciding what happens after that.

“At this present stage we’ll probably head Cox Plate and then the Mackinnon the week later,” he said.

With all that in mind though he urges not to forget about him this Saturday where he’ll be presented to win the race.

“Looking forward to getting back on a firm surface with him,” he said.

“I can’t find any excuses for him on Saturday.”

Torio’s Quest will be ridden by Hugh Bowman in the Shannon Stakes at a weight of 54.5kgs.