Wind And The Lion carries top weight and steps from a wide gate, but jockey Jarrad Noske believes the talented three-year-old has the class to overcome both hurdles in Saturday’s Listed Raconteur Stakes (1400m) at Bunbury on Saturday.
Noske backs up to ride Wind And The Lion again after piloting him into fourth place behind Pond Master when second-up over 1200m at Pinjarra two weeks ago and going up in trip he expects improvement from the gelding.
“I think he’ll appreciate the 1400m,” Jarrad Noske said on Tabradio.
“He just didn’t travel last start over the 1200m and found it hard to go with them when they quickened.
“He was still hanging in there late, so I think he’ll relish the 1400m. It felt like he would improve with the run.
“He wasn’t coming to the end of it on the line, but I’m looking forward to Saturday, anyway.”
The bar has been set high for Wind And The Lion after two dynamite runs at Ascot’s carnival last time in when he took out the Listed Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) and ran third in the Lee Steere Classic (1400m).
The son of Written By flagged big potential on debut at Belmont when he dominated his first race start by three lengths.
Noske joined forces with Wind And The Lion after he ran second for apprentice Brayden Gaerth on his return.
Wind And The Lion has been allocated 59kg in the Raconteur and with 12 acceptances, he steps from the second widest gate.
Wind And The Lion was $10 when markets opened, eased out to $11, but currently is back into $9.50.
Storyville, from the power Grant and Alana Williams stable, with gun jockey William Pike aboard and from a perfect alley in two, the dominant $2.35 Tabtouch market leader.
She’s all class taking out the Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) and WA Guineas (1600m) last November and ran a terrific race first up against older horses, led by Luvnwar.
Elite Missile is $5.50, Pond Master $8 and Opportunistic $9.50.
Noske also makes a case for Bayezid, trained by his wife, Tiarnna, in the Donnybrook Glass Handicap (1000m).
A five-year-old, who races well fresh, Noske was happy with Bayezid’s trial effort when second in a 950m heat.
“I thought he trialled well behind Estimator,” Noske said.
“I didn’t ask much of him.
“He’s got a pretty good record first up.
“He’s a bit of a fresh horse and has drawn well.
“If he can race up on speed, I think he’ll be there for a long way.”
Tabtouch has Bayezid at $16.
