How much rain the Flemington track receives on Saturday will determine whether Tentyris attempts a second Group 1 during Melbourne Cup week.
Tentyris scored an impressive win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last Saturday and is booked to run in the VRC Champions Sprint (1200m) on Saturday.
But the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt is unlikely to run if the track gets into the heavy range, something the trainers will not know until the meeting gets underway.
The Melbourne Bureau of Meteorology is predicting between 10 and 30mm of rain to fall at Flemington on Saturday which is likely to come on top of anything up to 6mm on Friday night.
Sam Freedman said Tentyris had had a smooth week but was extremely fearful of the amount of rain that is predicted.
“He’s had a really smooth week,” Freedman said.
“He’s a tough horse at the peak of his fitness and I think he’ll have a good race in him on Saturday, but we’re just worried about the rain.
“If it got to heavy, we’d have to have a chat about it.
“If it presents as a Good 4, he’ll be fronting up, but rain would be the only deterrent.”
Freedman said Tentyris had been kept to a simple routine during the week as he prepares for his first shot at taking on the older horses.
He said Tentyris had been kept to trotting and cantering to keep some freshness in him if the colt does front up on Saturday.
“Three-year-old colts, that are fit and firing, they bounce out of their runs well,” Freedman said.
“He’s just ticking around, he’s not going to get any fitter, so we’ve just kept him as fresh and as well as we can and happy.”
Freedman said Saturday’s race may develop into a tactical race with stablemate Tropicus looking the only leader.
“I don’t know where they’ll go and what they’ll do,” Freedman said.
“He likes something in front of him, something to chase, and he’ll generally run them down.”
With just 53.5kg on Saturday, Craig Williams takes over in the saddle replacing Mark Zahra who will ride Giga Kick.
Freedman said the prospects of a wet track would not hinder the stable’s other hope Tropicus.
“He’s super,” Freedman said.
“He wouldn’t mind a bit of rain, and if it does, come he’ll give a sight in front for sure.”
