Front-running mare Beirut is in the zone and trainer Henry Dwyer is confident the five-year-old can turn in another bold display as she chases her fourth straight win.
Beirut’s racing career is drawing to a close and she will go to the breeding barn in the spring.
Before then she will try to add a Saturday city win to her resume in the Mypunter.com Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield.
And if she steps up, Dwyer will give her the chance to to chase black type on the final weekend of the season in the Bletchingly Stakes.
Beirut’s run started with a midweek win at Sandown on May 11.
She won again at Cranbourne in another benchmark race for fillies and mares before a convincing all-the-way midweek city win at Sandown on July 6 on heavy ground.
Beirut is the $3.20 favourite for Saturday’s open handicap for mares.
“There’s no reason why she can’t run up to what she’s been doing,” Dwyer said.
“I know she’s going up in class but she beat the boys with 59-1/2 kilos last start at Sandown.
“This is an open mares race but she goes down five kilos.
“The one question mark, I suppose, is being back on top of the ground as she’s been winning on soft tracks. But certainly physically and in herself, there’s no reason why she won’t run up to what she’s been doing.”
Beirut has been ridden positively in her recent races and Dwyer won’t be changing tactics on Saturday.
“She’s terrific at the moment. She’s full of confidence and just wants to be out there doing it,” he said.
“It seems to have clicked with her, riding her that way, being a little bit aggressive and getting her stirred up early. She just rolls along in her comfort zone and gives a good kick.
“So we won’t change anything.”
