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Gris Caro is expected to be bouncing back sharply after a Turnbull Stakes flop in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup.

Update: Dandino and Gris Caro out of the Caulfield Cup.

The Jake Stephens-trained import was disappointing in the Turnbull Stakes last start however seemingly gets every opportunity to improve sharply on Saturday.

“He has come on really well,” Stephens said.

“Last week he did feel the firm track at Flemington. He has bounced back, we’ve done a lot of work with him.

“On Friday he started eating up really well, went well at the track on Saturday and had a good hit-out yesterday.”

Currently quoted at $31 with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds, Gris Caro has drawn to receive all of the favours from barrier 3 and has gun hoop Joao Moreira engaged.

A winner of the Naturalism Stakes at the course two starts ago, Gris Caro returns to the track on Saturday after an underwhelming display in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

“We did have to seek special permission from the stewards before the Turnbull to get him scoped and do a blood on him the morning of the race once we got over there because he had a cough on the trip over the day before,” Stephens told Sky Sports Radio.

“He was at least a half out of five with mucous in his trachea.

“We decided to opt for riding him back in the field with a bit of cover so it didn’t take too much out of him.”

The small Victor Harbour team has been represented in the Caulfield Cup twice previously with Alcopop who ran second behind Dunaden in the 2012 renewal.

“You don’t have many of them in your stable,” Stephens said.

“It’s everyone’s dream to get a horse into one of these races.

“For us to have another one it is really exciting.”