<p>Former Sydney galloper turned rising Canberra talent Bengal can put himself in the frame for the $2 million Kosciuszko with another city success at Royal Randwick on Saturday.</p> <p>Trainer Luke Pepper is keen to set the bar high with his emerging son of Zoustar, with the gelding winning three of his first four starts for the ACT conditioner.</p> <p>Bengal started his career with premier trainer Chris Waller before being snapped up on Inglis Digital for $42,500 by Pepper and his connections in November last year.</p> <p>The three-year-old won twice in his first preparation for the new yard at Moruya and Sapphire Coast and returned in a similar vein of form with victory in a Highway event at Royal Randwick on June 7.</p> <p>He steps out second-up in the Quayclean Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) with Brodie Loy in the saddle.</p> <p>"He has been super for us already and hasn't put a foot wrong so we were excited for this preparation with him," Pepper said.</p> <p>"He started off great with a win the other day so we will see how we go on Saturday."</p> <p>Pepper had also nominated Bengal for the Highway event on the same program but elected to give him his chance in a tougher assignment.</p> <p>"They are only three once and we had him in the Highway as well but he had the 61.5kg," Pepper said.</p> <p>"We thought this was the better option for him. The question mark for us is the 1300m second-up but all the signs he is showing us at home is that it shouldn't be an issue.</p> <p>"It's a good time and he is a horse that we thought could probably get to a Kosciuszko.</p> <p>"We got him back now to hopefully build his profile up and get him in people's eyes and hopefully he can do it on Saturday."</p> <p>The Kosciusko is run on The Everest day at Royal Randwick on October 18.</p>