Caulfield trainer Mick Price has no concerns that Tarzino missed a trial at Cranbourne on Monday in his lead up to the Group 1 $500,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Tarzino, above, is set to run first up in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
Victoria’s wet weather forced the cancellation of the trials but Price substituted the hit out with a solid gallop on the course proper at Caulfield this morning and is happy with Tarzino’s condition heading into his Spring Carnival campaign.
“I don’t think it will affect his preparation much. I don’t have to be digging him around in trials anyway,” Price told racing.com.
“Usually we trial them. If we would have had a trial, good, but it doesn’t affect his preparation as such.”
“I am really happy with the horse, he is jumping out of his skin.”
Tarzino has been installed as the $15 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 15 and Price will be just happy to get hi campaign under way in the Memsie Stakes.
“The Memsie wasn’t going to be the be all and end all for him. It was just like a kick off point because I didn’t want to run him first up in the Makybe Diva,” Price said.
“I would have rather taken him out there but fair enough. 2400m in a couple of months for the Caulfield Cup. We are not too worried about and I don’t think the horse is too worried about it either.”
“He will still have a good gallop and walk out the back door here and run in the Memsie.”
While Price admits that Tarzino is not revved up for a bold first up performance, he still expects the Victoria Derby winner to be doing his best work at the end of the 1400m.
“It wouldn’t matter what you did with him, you shouldn’t have him all gunned up for the Memsie anyhow,” Price said.
“It’s a Group 1 but if you want him up in the Turnbull and Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup maybe and all those sort of races, there is no point having him gunned up for 1400m.”
Tarzino ran over 1400m first up last preparation when he ran home for fourth to Mahuta in the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13 and Price is expecting something similar on Saturday.
“He ran first up last time in one of those 1400ms and he ran on and ran fourth,” Price said.
“A weight for age race, it will probably be a big field but they don’t usually hammer around. Weight for age horses just usually canter around and they work home and the best horse wins.”
“So that’s what will happen and just look for him to be running on, get a good exercise out of it and that will be us.”
Caulfield trackman Rob Nicholson reported that Tarzino looked in great order as he worked with a stablemate over 1200m on the course proper at Caulfield this morning.
The early morning fog prevented any times being taken but Nicholson said that Tarzino with Craig Newitt in the saddle overtook his galloping companion in the straight and went to the line strongly.
“Went on the course proper over 1200m this morning, Craig Newitt on board,” Nicholson reported.
“Craig was absolutely wrapped in the way the horse worked. No time because you couldn’t see them through the fog. Worked in company and managed to chase down the stablemate. Gave him a bit of a start and passed him by the time they got to the line.
“He is in terrific order. I would expect him to be running a really good race in the Memsie and I would also be expecting him to be charging home like a freight train in the last 400m. Expect big things from him this Spring.”
Tarzino was the winner of two Group 1 races during his three year old season and after winning the $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in the Spring went to Sydney in the Autumn to win the $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill.
In early betting for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au, Tarzino is rated alongside of Alpine Eagle at $10 behind the Darren Weir trained trio of Black Heart Bart at $3, Mahuta at $7.50 and Palentino at $8.
Early market order for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Black Heart Bart, $7.50 Mahuta, $8 Palentino, $10 Alpine Eagle, Tarzino, $11 Lord Of The Sky, Sofia Rosa, $13 Entirely Platinum, Tavago, $15 Rising Romance, $17 He Or She, $21 Charmed Harmony, Tally, $26 Awesome Rock, $31 Prince Of Penzance, $34 Hi World, Tashbeeh, $201 Ayres Rock.
