By Mandy Cottell

SYDNEY, Feb 8 AAP - Just days after celebrating his first victory in Melbourne with new Blue Diamond favourite Beneteau, trainer Paul Messara will turn his attention to Sydney.

Beneteau rocketed to the top of markets for the Group One after scoring an emphatic 2-1/2 length win over General Truce in Saturday's Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield.

Messara reported the unbeaten Sydney colt had come through his win unscathed and would be even better suited over 1200 metres on Saturday week.

"He's pulled up very well," Messara said.

"He's quite foolproof and we had him well prepared for Saturday.

"He'd worked that way quite a bit to get him used to travelling on that leg and we tried to settle him in down there early and get him used to the track, so it all went to plan.

"Another 100 metres will certainly help him, he seemed to have a bit more in hand."

Beneteau's win in the Group Three Prelude was Messara's first in Melbourne, although the young trainer came close last spring when Silver Spur was beaten a nose in Listed company.

Messara confirmed stable apprentice Daniel Ganderton would retain the mount in the Blue Diamond for which Beneteau has been installed outright favourite at $3.60.

He said the son of 1999 Blue Diamond winner Redoute's Choice wouldn't need much more work between now and his Grand Final day on February 20.

"Not a hell of a lot," Messara said.

"I'll just keep him ticking over and give him a couple of gallops in between but he's not an overly gross horse.

"I just need to keep him safe and sound."

Messara will have two stakes runners at Randwick on Saturday in dual nominee Alverta and three-year-old filly Savoia who will resume in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).

Alverta is returning from a successful Brisbane campaign that yielded a win and two placings and Messara said he was favouring keeping her to mares grade rather than run her in the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

"She's more likely to run in the Breeders Classic against the mares," he said.

"Tye Angland has been booked to ride."

Alverta has been nominated for the Doncaster Mile while Savoia is on an AJC Australian Oaks mission.

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