Natuzzi finished seventh in the group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield in Melbourne on Saturday after racing keenly for much of the 1400m.
The winner, Sistine Demon, was the subject of a late betting plunge and sprinted away to score by six lengths.
''[Natuzzi] didn't get much luck in the running and was parked three deep,'' his Wingatui trainer, Paul Richards, said.
''He ended up over-racing, which he can do when he doesn't get cover.''
Richards felt an easing of the pace may have contributed to the 5yr-old's racing manners as well.
''They went hard for the first bit and once they got round that first corner into the back straight, it look like the pace slackened.''
Despite the tough trip, Richards and jockey Chris Johnson were more than satisfied with the gelding's effort, with just 2 lengths between the second-placed Gig and 11th-placed Mr O'Ceirin.
''We were really pleased with his run. As Chris said, he was going to run fourth or fifth and they only got him in the last 30m.''
A blood sample taken off Natuzzi on Monday also gave Richards a boost of confidence as he considers the plan for the son of Coats Choice between now and the Goodwood on May 10.
''The vet said the blood results were better than when I took one off him when he arrived, so that's encouraging.''
Richards said Natuzzi would have a ''few days in the paddock'' for the rest of his week at Bevan Laming's Cranbourne property, and his regime will be kept fairly light to ensure he is slightly fresh heading into the $500,000 feature over 1200m.
There's just one name Richards hopes will be absent from the nominations for the Goodwood - the new star of Australian sprinting, Lankan Rupee.
''We wouldn't want to be meeting it, especially at set weights and penalties.''
Chris Johnson will team up with Natuzzi for the Goodwood, where Natuzzi will carry 55.5kg.
