Dan O’Sullivan has plenty to look forward to again on Saturday if Tuscan Fire and British General’s recent trips to Flemington are anything to go by.
Tuscan Fire, the staying find of the summer in Victoria, continues his march towards the Adelaide Cup when he runs as favourite in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m).
Tuscan Fire winning the Byron Moore Handicap at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
Forty minutes later stablemate British General can bounce back to his best in the Listed TAB Stakes over a course he is yet to be beaten at.
The two times the stablemates have raced on the same day at Flemington, both in January, O’Sullivan has walked away with a winning double.
And he won’t rule it out again.
“It’s certainly no surprise that Tuscan Fire is favourite tomorrow. He’s in great form,” O’Sullivan said.
“The downside of having great form though is the weight he’s got to carry.”
Tuscan Fire hasn’t finished worse than second in his past six starts and produced the most dominant performance of his life with a 2-3/4 length Mornington Cup win last time out.
He is also favourite for the Adelaide Cup on March 11.
His 59kg impost on Saturday is 5kg more than most of his rivals and 4.5kg above second top weight Dame Claire.
“He can carry the weight, it’s just the amount of weight he’s giving to the rest of them that’s the concern,” the trainer said.
British General pieced together three-straight Flemington wins before failing to run a place in the John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield on Australia Day.
After assessing the gelding after the Caulfield defeat, O’Sullivan decided against spelling him but instead freshened him up.
“Statistically it’s his best track and distance. He’s been there three times for three wins over the 1400 metres,” he said.
“I’ve freshened him up and changed his routine.”
The change of routine was having a couple of weeks of light work and spending his days in a paddock.
“These are nice races for him and he’s right back on his game,” O’Sullivan said.
British General is on the second line of betting behind the Mick Price-trained Callanish.
