Exciting three-year-old Master Harry is a chance to back up in Adelaide’s Group Two Yallambee Classic after he takes on the older horses at Flemington.
The Peter Moody-trained colt has been backed from $3.30 to $3 favouritism with TAB Sportsbet for Saturday’s Listed Bob Hoysted Hcp (1000m) on the back of his dogged last-start win in the Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 12.
Moody’s racing manager Jeff O’Connor said that maturity issues had restricted Master Harry to only four starts after much was expected of him following his debut win by nearly three lengths in the Listed Streets Ice Cream Stakes (1000m) at Flemington a year ago.
O’Connor said the Magic Albert colt didn’t come up in the spring and had benefited from being given extra time to mature.
“He had one run in the spring but he never looked great,” O’Connor said.
“We weren’t happy with his condition and he lightened off so we sent him off to the paddock.”
O’Connor said Master Harry was now a different horse and had come back in “great shape”.
He said the stable expected him to win first-up but he disappointed, starting odds-on at Moonee Valley and finishing second which led to Moody ordering him to Sydney for the Royal Sovereign.
“The trip to Sydney put his mind back on the job,” O’Connor said.
He said the stable was happy to run Master Harry against the older horses on Saturday despite having to give weight to most of the field.
With 56kg he is only below Group One performers Secret Flyer (58.5kg) and Winter King (57.5kg) while he has the same weight as consistent four-year-old Broken.
“He is not terribly well weighted but it is only 1000 metres,” O’Connor said.
“He is back in good form and if he runs well there is a possibility that he will go to Adelaide for the Yallambee over 1200 metres on Monday week.
“He is learning all time and he is going to be a really nice sprinter for the next season or two.”
Winter King ($4.60), Secret Flyer ($5) and Broken ($5.50) are considered Master Harry’s biggest threats on Saturday with the rest of the field at $13 or longer.
AAP TURF
