Topweight Trust In A Gust has been set a tough task when he resumes for the Spring in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Trust In A Gust will carry 60kg when he resumes in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The Dual Group 1 winner has been lumped with 60kgs and was out of luck at the barrier draw coming up with gate eleven in the twelve horse field with Brad Rawiller to ride.
The Darren Weir trained Trust In A Gust was one of the stars of the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival with back to back Group 1 wins at Caulfield with victories in the $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and in the $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Trust In A Gust will be having his first run since finishing second to Red Bomber in the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April and has recovered from a minor leg injury that forced him out of the Queensland Winter Carnival.
The Keep The Faith five year old has a fifty per cent winning first up record and as was shown in the VOBIS Gold Sprint, is vulnerable under a big weight when resuming.
Weir will be hoping for a solid effort in the Aurie’s Star Handicap to tighten him up for his next Group 1 assignment in the $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
“He’ll run in the 1200 at Flemington and then he’ll run in the first Group One, the Memsie,” Weir told AAP.
All of the other eleven horses in the field are on the 54kg minimum with the Tony McEvoy trained Shiraz drawing the rails with last season’s premier jockey Damien Oliver to ride.
Shiraz is racing in winning form and is stepping up to Group 3 company following his two victories in BenchMark grade at Rosehill.
Zebrinz from the stables of Leon and Troy Corstens also has winning form behind him last preparation with a winning hat trick before heading for a spell.
The Sebring five year old has drawn barrier six with Chris Parnham to ride the gelding at his first run back since winning the $250,000 Gallagher Bassett VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on April 18.
Play Master from barrier five with Craig Newitt and Glen Boss’s mount Lonrockstar (barrier eight) are set to clash again after running the quinella in the Listed $150,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 11.
