Town Cryer may be the form horse in Saturday’s Gr.3 Dixon & Dunlop Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham, but the mare’s stablemate Sindicato may pose as her biggest challenge.

Prepared by Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson, Town Cryer claimed a career-best victory in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in October, and has maintained solid form through her campaign, including a seventh in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), though she was scorched out of the gates in the false start.

A daring front-running ride aboard the daughter of Tavistock last-start in the Taupo Cup (2000m) was almost executed to perfection by Opie Bosson, the mare only being caught in the final bounds by Mehzebeen, who carried six kilograms less.

“I’m very happy with her season so far, the Wellington race (TAB Classic) was a bit of a debacle, but she got over that,” Bergerson said.

“She ran super in the Taupo Cup, Opie gave her every chance, she fought hard and I think the weight just told in the last 50m. I’m really pleased with how she came through the race, and she worked really well on Tuesday.

“She’s not giving the field as much as she was at Taupo, she gave the winner six kilograms there, so I’m pleased with 57.5kg on Saturday.”

Bergerson had originally planned to set Town Cryer for the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on February 6, however, the mare indicated she preferred otherwise at their Awapuni base.

“We were planning to go straight towards the Wairarapa Breeders’ but she bucked off Bruce Herd, her trackwork rider, the other morning so he said she’s ready to go back to the races now,” he said.

“She loves Wellington and she races well there, the speed in the race won’t help her much but she doesn’t have to lead so she’ll end up in a good position with a great jockey on.”

Town Cryer will once again be in the capable hands of Bosson out of barrier 11, while stablemate Sindicato will jump from the ace draw under Lisa Allpress.

Only lightly-raced for his eight years, Sindicato has been in fine form this campaign, and was game in carrying the 59.5kg topweight to third behind Snazzytavi in the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

“Opie said after the race that if he’d drawn an alley, he didn’t think they would’ve beaten him,” Bergerson said.

“He hit the line strong with a big weight, and he’s trained on very well. His condition is amazing, and his trackwork has gone up a level since he’s come back from Auckland, hence why we’re trying this race. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Though Town Cryer is the likely-favoured runner of Bergerson’s pair, he insisted the son of Per Incanto would be anything but playing second fiddle to his stablemate on Saturday.

“He’ll push the mare, there’s not much between them in the way they’re working,” he said.

“In an ideal world, Town Cryer would’ve drawn one and he would’ve drawn 11, but he should be up in the first half-dozen on the fence. I’m not sure if she’ll (Town Cryer) lead, Sergio likes to go forward and a few others so I’ll leave that up to Opie. She likes to be in her own rhythm and quicken up when she can, but Sindicato won’t be giving her too many lengths of a head start.”

The punters have been in agreeance with Bergerson’s confidence early, with Sindicato shortening from $9 to $7.50 on the TAB Fixed Odds, while Town Cryer currently shares the top of an even market at $6 with Sumi.

Though Sindicato holds a nomination for next Saturday’s Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m), Bergerson indicated the Anniversary would be a likely final lead-in to the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on February 3 at New Plymouth.

Before chasing the spoils at Trentham, Bergerson will have a sole representative at Wanganui on Thursday when a fast improving La Bella Grande contests the Whanganui Chronicle Maiden F&M 1340.

The daughter of Per Incanto showed her promise last start with a game runner-up finish behind Waitui Rose at Trentham under Allpress, who retains the ride.

“She should run really well tomorrow. We planned to run her at Hastings but had a bit of a sore stomach on Friday, so we took her out but she’s back on track now,” Bergerson said.

“Lisa gave her a quiet gallop on Tuesday morning and said she felt 100 percent, so we’ll push on.”

As her name suggests, La Bella Grande has a notably large stature, and Bergerson has allowed the five-year-old to mature slowly with just the four raceday appearances to date.

“She’s 17 hands and hasn’t quite filled into her frame yet,” he said. “We’ve taken our time and Sam (Williams, breeder and part-owner) and the syndicate have been very patient with her, which has been a blessing. She’s still yet to hit her straps, the autumn will be her best time I think.”