Adam Durrant admits The Front Bar has been a surprise packet for his in form stable and he has high hopes she can extend her winning form at Belmont Park on Saturday.
The Sessions filly is chasing a hat trick of wins in the Free Entry To Belmont Park Plate (1200m) and her battle with undefeated gelding Trix Of The Trade a big highlight on the Belmont card.
The Front Bar recorded her maiden win last month by leading from start to finish, but it was her previous victory when she rocketed home from near last that caught the eye.
The three-year-old, with William Pike in the saddle, looked to be in an impossible position at the top of the straight, but unleashed a blistering sprint in the final 200m.
Adam Durrant said it took time for the win to sink in, but on reflection it exposed a talented horse with a bright future.
“On face value I thought was it just young horses getting tired and a bit legless that inflated the win, but when you look at her sectional times throughout the race and the last 200m, it was of a horse going places,” Durrant told Tabradio.
“She really didn’t get any favours in the run either, but she was very impressive.
“They don’t usually reproduce a career-best performance, but hopefully this young horse is going to buck that trend and produce another career-best performance.
“She was one of those horses that never sort of put up her hand up to being as good as she is early on and generally you like those horses because you don’t know where the bottom of them is, they just keep improving.”
Trix Of The Trade ($2,70) just shades The Front Bar ($2.75) for favouritism.
He’s A Sizzler, who closed late to finish second behind The Front Bar two starts back, is next at $3.60.
Trix Of The Trade has drawn barrier four for Troy Turner. The Front Bar, with William Pike aboard, is on his outside in gate five.
State Of Power ($8), Simple Logic ($26) and Gypsy Gee ($41) round out a small field of six starters.
Durrant said if The Front Bar performs to expectations, the Ascot carnival later in the year will beckon.
“She would have to perform very well to press on this preparation, but something along the lines of the Placid Ark (1200m) or something over the shorter distance will be more suitable than a Champion Fillies (1600m),” Durrant said.
“We’ll see how she goes tomorrow (Saturday), she’s got some pretty nice horses to contend with.”
Durrant said The Front Bar and Miss Zedel in the Iron Jack Handicap (1600m) are his two best chances on Saturday.
