Adelaide trainer Ken Sweeney has been biding his time with Group One-placed sprinter Riziz, waiting for Saturday’s Group Three Sir John Monash Stakes.
Riziz, third in the Group One Goodwood in Adelaide two starts ago, has not raced for six weeks since his failure with 60kg in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington.
Riziz winning the All Victorian Sprint Series Final at Flemington – photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
The five-year-old, a five-time Listed winner, was kept up to the mark for Saturday’s Caulfield race with a trial win at Morphettville.
And he has been a firmer in TAB betting, opening at $8 on Wednesday before tightening to $5.
“He’s just been ticking over waiting for this race,” Sweeney said.
“He gets too much weight in handicaps.”
Riziz, who Sweeney says is not top class but “a good useful horse” will take on the likes of emerging sprinter Lord Of The Sky, fellow Group One-placegetter Le Bonsir and noted first-up performer African Pulse in the nine-horse field.
Caulfield is rated in the slow range and that does not concern Sweeney.
“He likes the sting out of the track, that’s why he’s been hanging around. When the tracks are damp it suits him,” he said.
Chris Symons, who has ridden Riziz his past two starts, retains the ride.
Adelaide jockey Clare Lindop, who is on the comeback trail from injuries sustained in a race fall in March, was aboard in the gelding’s recent trial and in trackwork on Tuesday.
“I can only go on what Clare said and she just said it (his trial) was very good. He worked well again on Tuesday, according to her,” the trainer said.
The Bletchingly Stakes three weeks after the Monash is another Melbourne winter target for Riziz should he perform well on Saturday.
“None of these races are easy to win, but he is fit and well and ready to go into it,” Sweeney said.
Riziz has won a Listed race in Melbourne during the past two winters – claiming the Creswick Stakes in 2012 and the All Victorian Sprint Series Final last year.
Three-year-old Lord Of The Sky, chasing his first win in stakes company, is the $2.30 favourite having won four of his seven starts.
