Teronado is up in weight and back in distance at Eagle Farm on Saturday but trainer Bruce Hill is adamant the gelding can rise to the challenge.
Teronado emerged as a spring carnival contender when he scored a dominant 3-1/2 length win at Eagle Farm on August 10.
The son of Testa Rossa finished the 1300 metre race off strongly but has to drop back 100 metres in trip for Saturday’s Kendrick Racing Handicap, and carry an extra 1.5kg.
“Whether it’s 1300 metres or 1200 metres is neither here nor there really,” Hill said.
“The fact it’s only 100 metres shouldn’t make much difference to him. He picked them up at the furlong the other day and was racing away the last bit.”
Hill believes there is enough speed to suit Teronado’s racing pattern, which is to get back and power home.
“There looks to be huge speed in the race with three or four leaders and Eagle Farm suits his style of racing,” he said.
“He likes to balance up and the long straight at Eagle Farm suits him better than a track like Doomben.”
Although Teronado is burdened with 59kg on Saturday, Hill believes the gelding has the physique to cope with the extra weight.
Chris Munce rode Teronado last start but the gelding’s regular rider Damian Browne will be back aboard on Saturday.
Browne was holidaying in Fiji when Teronado won at Eagle Farm but has been aboard the gelding at his previous four starts including victories at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben.
Hill is happy with the progress of Teronado since his Eagle Farm win but believes the gelding is becoming hard to place in Brisbane.
“He’ll go around on Saturday but that’ll just about be it for him up here,” he said.
After Saturday’s assignment, Teronado will head to Sydney where he will be aimed at the Group Three Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Randwick on September 7.
Hill has entered Teronado for the Group One $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12 but a start in that race will depend on the strength of his lead-up form.
