Trainer Stuart Kendrick has reverted to using claiming apprentice Baylee Nothdurft on track specialist Tarzan, who heads the stable’s strong team at the Sunshine Coast.
Kendrick is well on his way to winning his seventh Sunshine Coast trainers premiership with 29 winners, 17 in front of Tony Gollan after six months of the season.
He loves winning races on big days and will have as many as nine runners on Saturday.
Tarzan has been allocated top weight of 62.5kg in the Open Handicap (1000m).
He has earned the big weight with 10 of his 16 wins recorded at the Sunshine Coast 1000m circuit including five in the past six months.
Tarzan’s regular rider has been senior jockey Luke Tarrant, who was aboard him when 12th at his last start in the Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11.
Nothdurft was the jockey and claimed 1.5kg when Tarzan won at the Sunshine Coast with 63.5kg.
Kendrick believes Tarzan is much better suited at 1000m on his favourite track but weight is starting to become an issue.
“You know what you will get with him as he will roll forward and then the others have to get over him,” Kendrick said.
“But this is a strong field and every kilo counts. It starts to hurt a bit when you are against the better horses.”
Kendrick accepted with four horses in the $125,000 Sunshine Coast Classic, with The Brotherhood, Cosmic Gossip, Queen Sweeper and Poupee.
“Queen Sweeper might start at Doomben on Thursday but the other three will definitely run on Saturday,” he said.
“It looks a good even field.”
