Trainer Pat Carey says it would take a brave man to send a horse to the paddock after three successive wins.
That’s why Dan Zephyr will contest his first black-type race at Flemington on Saturday.
Dan Zephyr
“It’s pretty hard to do anything with a horse that’s winning, but keep it racing,” Carey said.
“He’s in good order, he’s trained on well and consistently since his last win and we’re very happy to be lifting him up to this level and keeping him down in the weights.
“We think the timing is ideal.”
After two wins at Flemington with a Caulfield victory in between, Dan Zephyr is second favourite at $3.80 for the TAB Rewards Stakes behind Burning Front at $3.60.
Burning Front and Dan Zephyr have met three times with Darren Weir’s galloper proving superior.
But Carey hasn’t been frightened off, knowing Dan Zephyr is in career best form.
“He’s had a bit of trouble with Burning Front over the course but I reckon he meets him OK at the weights for the first time in relation to ratings and it may level things up a little bit,” he said.
Carey is hoping Dan Zephyr and his younger half-sister Shakespearean Lass can complete a rare city double, just as they did at Caulfield on February 6.
Shakespearean Lass lines up in the Group Three in the Frances Tressady Stakes.
“Rhys McLeod felt she might enjoy the step out to 1400 (metres),” Carey said.
“I place a fair bit of emphasis on what Rhys says and he’s proven to be right more times than wrong.”
Carey will also saddle General Jackson, conqueror of the unbeaten Singapore galloper Super One at Cranbourne last October, in the Bob Hoysted Handicap.
