Luke Tarrant has the chance to burst back into the stakes-winning ranks aboard Cylinder Beach in the Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Tarrant has been back riding for three months after serving a suspension for drug-related offences and has been working hard to rebuild his career.
He has ridden 13 winners since his return with six in the metropolitan area including Top Tone at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Tarrant is no stranger to big race success with his major wins the 2014 Group Two Villiers Stakes (Rudy) and the 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (Le Chef).
Trainer Desleigh Forster booked Tarrant to ride Cylinder Beach in Saturday’s Listed Recognition Stakes (1400m) with several of her regular riders committed to other runners.
Brad Pengelly has been riding Cylinder Beach in trackwork but the gelding is likely to get the minimum 54kg, below the jockey’s weight range.
Forster said Tarrant had ridden a few horses for her lately and she was impressed with his attitude.
“I had to act quickly because Jim Byrne is expected to ride Rudy and Robbie Fradd is wanted for Frespanol,” Forster said.
“Luke can ride light and he has plenty of big race experience.”
Forster expects Cylinder Beach to race well despite a two-week delay to his return.
The winner of the Group Three Gunsynd Stakes during the winter Cylinder Beach’s original comeback run was washed out by a heavy storm at Doomben.
Forster then elected not to run him in the Listed Keith Noud Quality on Saturday won by stablemate Too Good To Refuse.
“Cylinder Beach is working well and he is fit enough to run well at the 1400 metres in the Recognition Stakes,” she said.
Forster will not continue with Too Good To Refuse’s Brisbane campaign if she feels he is harshly treated by handicappers.
Too Good To Refuse could rise by as much as 10 points from his current 84 rating for his Keith Noud win.
“He isn’t a big horse and if I think he is being harshly treated at the weights I will have no hesitation to switch his campaign to Sydney. There are plenty of races there for him,” Forster said.
