Jockey Mark Zahra does not believe the weight handed Tentyris will stop the colt from landing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
Tentyris will need to equal the weight carrying record of Ajax in 1938 if he is to take out the Group 1 1200m handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
The 57kg is the same weight Fastnet Rock carried as a three-year-old when second to Alinghi in the 2005 Newmarket after wins in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes and the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
Tentyris returned from a successful spring campaign, that included the Coolmore Stud Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance during Melbourne Cup week, to win the Lightning Stakes on February 14.
“I don’t think weight has got much to do with it as I’m a heavy weight jockey,” Zahra said.
“All the rating’s gurus might think a bit different, but I worked him Monday and he absolutely flew.
“He’s flying, so I don’t think the weight will stop him.”
Zahra made a successful return to riding at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday after an injury enforced lay-off.
He pushed his body to the limit knowing he had two quality three-year-olds that were racing during the autumn.
Zahra didn’t make it back in time for Observer’s win in the Australian Guineas last week but wanted to be back for Tentyris’ assault on the Newmarket.
“If it had of been any other time, I probably would have taken my time with it, but I just couldn’t afford to,” Zahra said.
“The horses I had lined up for autumn, was unbelievable.
“I was trying to get back for Observer, but the doctor said that was five weeks and that might be pushing it a bit, but when you have a goal, for a horse like this, it definitely helps getting up early, getting to physio twice a week and that sort of stuff.”
Zahra suffered a ‘v’ fractured at the top of his tibia which luckily did not affect the anterior cruciate ligament of his knee.
“They said you don’t break that bone without doing the ACL, so that was one good thing, I suppose,” Zahra said.
“I was non-weight bearing for 10 days and after that I was straight back into it, but I was doing some rehab when I was on crutches.
“The surgeon said you will know when you’ve done too much, it will swell up and be sore. I pushed it to the limit most of the way, and it’s absolutely fine now.”
Zahra has been associated with Tentyris in five of his eight starts, including two of his three wins on the straight track at Flemington.
He said Flemington suited Tentyris’ racing style once he and trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman had worked it out.
“If you get his first half of the race right and he’s happy, you can see he pins his ears back and lets fly,” Zahra said.
“The straight really suits him. You don’t have to chase to keep in touch and when you do that, it takes his finish away.
“He’s a funny horse, he doesn’t want to go early, but the further he goes, he knows, and halfway through he will start to bridle up and then by the 300 (metres), if he’s on song, you’re skiing off him and he’s ready to let rip.
“He’s a beast.”
