Shawn Mathrick is counting on a less strenuous start to the campaign of sprinter Our Nkwazi giving the gelding a black type win at Moonee Valley.
The recently turned nine-year-old is one of 20 horses nominated to contest the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.
A last start winner over Saturday’s course and distance, Our Nkwazi will be out to turn around the performance that saw him fail to beat a runner home in last year’s Carlyon Stakes.
Our Nkwazi had won the same 1000m lead-up run 12 months prior and Mathrick is counting on freshness being the secret this year.
This time Our Nkwazi will be having just his seventh outing whereas his Carlyon run 12 months previous was start number 11 for the preparation.
“He’d probably had enough at that stage last year,” Mathrick said.
“He’ll go into this race with less runs under the belt and be a lot fresher.”
Our Nkwazi has had three starts at Moonee Valley this campaign registering two wins and a sixth to Sea Lord on June 20.
He appreciated a fast tempo when storming home to run down Hard Romp and Il Cavallo on August 1 and Mathrick is banking on the speed being on to suit the gelding on Saturday.
“There should be plenty of speed as there’s a few that will go pretty quick in it,” Mathrick said.
“If they walk up in front it makes it pretty hard for him but he should get an ideal track on Saturday and if we get a bit of rain on Friday it will suit me.”
Mathrick said Our Nkwazi looks bigger and stronger than when he won last time adding Our Nkwazi is likely to be kept to racing at Moonee Valley with the better sprinters starting their campaigns.
“He’s going to start meeting much better horses as the tracks dry out and that will be his biggest problem going forward,” Mathrick said.
“I’ll probably have to stick to the Valley as he likes a bit give out of the surface.”
