Apprentice jockey Daniel Stackhouse will bring Royal Bender's weight down to 55kg for the Brian Beattie Handicap

The one downside to a horse having success is always the big weight that it forces upon them when they contest handicap events.

So often it means that if a runner is out of form they struggle to get back into it again with the weight taking them right out of the contest.

The only real counter measure to the problem other than running in weight-for-age events is to book a claiming apprentice.

Sometimes this can be a bit risky or hit and miss but with current apprentice Daniel Stackhouse that doesn’t seem to be an issue.

Darren Weir has certainly noticed how well Stackhouse is riding of late and he’s rewarded him with a start on Royal Bender in the Brian Beattie Handicap over 1200m at Flemington tomorrow.

His two kilogram claim brings the fillies weight down to 55kg, a handy relief from a long run of heavier loads.

Her last four runs have been with a heavier weight, in fact in her last two starts she’s carried a combined total of 117kgs.

Despite this she’s still being extremely competitive only finishing worse than second once in her last six.

At the same time though her conversion to wins hasn’t been where Weir would of liked with just the one first place finish since going three in a row to start her career.

Her last start was a second on a slow track at Moonee Valley but Weir isn’t using the 58kg as an excuse.

“The winner camped on her back last week but she had no real excuses,” Weir said.

“She is racing well and hopefully she can run well again.”

Her overall career record now stands at four wins and five placings from 16 starts, her two year old season far and away better than at three.

The 1200m seems to be the top of her trip and attempts to stretch her out to the 1400m have been the only times she’s failed badly.

If she can run well at Flemington tomorrow it looks like a trip to Adelaide could be on the cards with the Dermody Stakes on July 30th.

“We might freshen her up after Saturday and have a look at that race with her,” Weir said.