The only thing missing from the CV of Schwarz is a Group 1 victory which his trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton hope to rectify as early as Saturday.
Schwarz has yet to try his hand at Group 1 company but will get that opportunity in the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
To date, Schwarz has raced 10 times for five wins, four of which have been in Stakes company with two of those being in Group 2 races.
His most recent victory was in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 24 and the Orr Stakes is one of three Group 1 targets that potentially fit into Schwarz’s program, the others being the Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 22 and the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 8.
“He’s only had 10 runs, won four Stakes races, two Group 2’s and he’s always promised a lot,” Charlton said.
“First-up was the first time that we really saw an effort that could cement him a Group 1 over the coming weeks.
“We think he’s improving, getting better. He’s a lovely natured horse, physically great to look at and we’ve got confidence that there is a Group 1 win coming in the weeks ahead.”
Charlton was in Melbourne to watch Schwarz go through his pace at Caulfield on Tuesday, the entire’s first look at the track.
“He seemed to handle things beautifully,” Charlton said.
“Ellie, his work rider, was happy with how he got around the track and visually it looked great.
“He’s pulled up well, we’re very happy heading into Saturday.”
Charlton said Schwarz had blossomed in Melbourne since his first-up win at Moonee Valley.
He said the entire had not left any feed and had put on weight, which Charlton said gives the stable confidence that he is ready to step up to 1400m.
But Charlton does not want to see Schwarz ridden with the same intent to find the front as he was when successful in the Australia Stakes.
“We’ll have to see how the race pans out, but from a nomination perspective there doesn’t seem to be a Pride Of Jenni or a Buffalo River or something like that in there,” Charlton said.
“We would like to see him have a little less intent to see out the 1400 (metres).
“He was fresh and well going into that first-up run, so I would say that hit-out would allow him to come back half-a-peg, but we’d like to get him into a rhythm like he was first-up.”
