Speedy gelding Tarzan’s lone win at 1200 metres has given his trainer Stuart Kendrick hope he can take out the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets Quality at the Gold Coast.
Tarzan has proved to be one of the best short-course specialists in Queensland having won 16 races, 15 between 1000m to 1100m.
The gelding will be having his seventh attempt at 1200m in the Snippets and he has won only once in his attempts at the distance.
But Kendrick feels the statistic is skewed by the fact most of Tarzan’s runs at 1200m were when the gelding was struggling for form.
Kendrick believes a far better guide is Tarzan’s most recent run at 1200m when he won at Doomben in August.
“He had 60 kilograms that day and they really served it up to him in the lead,” Kendrick said.
“But they could not get past him in the straight and he ran 1:9.04 which is getting along in anyone’s terms.”
“I know it is a stronger field on Saturday but not that much stronger.”
Kendrick said a lot would depend on the early pace in the race as Tarzan would go forward from barrier nine.
“And he won his last start (1000m) with 63.5kg and he drops six kilos on Saturday which is also a help,” Kendrick said.
The Caloundra trainer has two emergencies – Cosmic Gossip and Poupee – in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“If they don’t get a start they will go on to the Sunshine Coast Classic where they are eligible for a $50,000 Magic Millions bonus,” he said.
Kendrick also had Way Beyond as a reserve in the Classic but he was withdrawn when he drew the widest barrier of the 16 runners plus five emergencies.
