Trainer Grahame Begg does not know what the ceiling is for King Zephyr who takes an important step into Stakes company at Flemington on Saturday.
A veteran of six races, for five wins, and a run of four straight in his current campaign, King Zephyr heads to the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington as a prelude to a potential trip to Brisbane.
King Zephyr has been taken through his grades by Begg and amassed almost $145,000 in prize money, but the trainer concedes now is the time to get a little more serious if the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month is to become a reality.
“I’ve had this race earmarked for some time,” Begg said.
“We thought if the horse is to go to Queensland, he will need to get quite a significant ratings boost especially if you are thinking of a Stradbroke, or something like that.
“He’s still unexposed to a higher grade of horse, but this would give us that opportunity if could get the job done on Saturday to boost his rating and maybe get into the Stradbroke.
“If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. We can pull the pin, don’t go to Queensland and may be even have a look around for something else.”
With a rating of 82, King Zephyr will carry the same weight as horses rated much higher in the handicap on Saturday courtesy of former Singapore galloper Lim’s Kosciuszko who has 60.5kg and is conceding 6kg to second topweight Aviatress.
Begg said King Zephyr was not well-weighted, but he took heart from the fact there were horses lower rated that accepted for the race.
King Zephyr is also dropping back from the 1400m trip he was successful over at Flemington last time while he may also have a soft track to contend with.
“We don’t know about him down the straight, so that will be a new challenge, and he is back to 1200 metres, but he is three weeks between runs,” Begg said.
“He’s had a nice bit of down time and has freshened up well, but we feel Flemington will suit him and he is an adaptable horse as nothing seems to worry him.
“There may be up to 10 mils of rain on the day, so it might be similar conditions to what he raced on last time and that didn’t bother him.
“If it is a little worse, the breed, the Hallowed Crown’s, they do seem to handle the ground, but you don’t know until you try them on it, but I think he will be OK.”
