Jamie Edwards has had a change of heart with stayer Sertorius after the horse turned in an impressive track gallop this week.
Sertorius was earmarked to run at Sandown on Saturday in the 3200m Cup but will instead contest the Zipping Classic over 2400m.
“His work on Tuesday wasn’t that of a two-miler, more like a weight-for-age horse,” Edwards said.
“He’s really bright and well so we thought we can keep him nice and fresh going into Saturday and fitness won’t be a query.”
The eight-year-old won the Zipping Classic at Caulfield in 2013 when Sandown was undergoing a track renovation.
Edwards said Sertorius had come through his 12th to Prince Of Penzance in the Melbourne Cup in excellent shape, an effort the trainer rated among the horse’s career-best runs.
Sertorius was continually shuffled out of the race to near-last on the home turn before running on in the straight to be beaten less than five lengths.
“The Zipping also qualifies us better for Sydney or something next year,” Edwards said.
“He’s won the race before and he does seem to perform very well at weight-for-age.”
The Zipping Classic has brought together a field of eight with Sertorius to be ridden by Craig Newitt.
Who Shot Thebarman, who finished one place ahead of Sertorius in the Melbourne Cup, runs in the Zipping Classic along with Dandino, the winner of last Saturday’s Queen’s Cup at Flemington.
Dandino’s Darren Weir-trained stablemate Tall Ship, Rising Romance and Kirramosa are also in the line-up.
Edwards said Sertorius would be spelled after Saturday’s race and be given a light autumn campaign.
He hopes to set the horse for another Melbourne Cup tilt in 2016.
The trainer feels the son of Galileo showed the benefits of a light autumn after a strenuous preparation in 2014.
“He’s only had the five runs this campaign, not seven or eight,” Edwards said.
“And he had a soft autumn this year which was deliberate and it looks like it’s worked to our advantage.
“Around the stable he seems as bright as he’s ever been and not getting around like an old man.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll perform well on Saturday.”
