Leading trainer Chris Waller has made a habit of training the trifecta in races in Sydney and punters are confident he will do it again tomorrow; with Pentometer, Black Jag and Runhardasun all well backed in the betting market for the TAB Rewards Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Chris Waller has a strong hand in the TAB Rewards Handicap at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Pentometer has recorded two wins from three starts this preparation but was treated with a course of antibiotics after being found with a mild temperature following his victory in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on December 21.

Despite the setback, Pentometer has been one of the best backed runners on the Rosehill Gardens card tomorrow, and a clear favourite in TAB Rewards Handicap betting markets, and Waller is confident that the Pentire gelding has recovered from the minor issue.

“He was a good winner last start but he had a very minor setback with that elevated temperature,” Waller said.

“It was minor and we treated him with antibiotics as a precaution.

“We scoped him on Monday and he was clean so that shows there were no secondary problems.

“I expect him to run really well.”

Runhardasun finished second behind Pentometer in the Australian Turf Club Handicap at his last start and is chasing his first metropolitan victory this preparation after scoring a narrow win in the MGA Insurance Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle first-up.

Waller said that he has taken a while to find out what makes the son of Haradasun tick but believes that he is a chance to turn-the-tables on Pentometer, at the juicy odds of $6, this weekend.

“He is in the right race,” Waller said.

“It is probably a touch stronger than the four horse field that he ran in last start but he is going really well.

“We are starting to work him out and I think that he is a genuine 2000 metre horse.”

Black Jag is heading into this race from a different form line after scoring a tough win in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury last weekend, despite being impeded by a riderless horse in the final stages of the race.

Waller does not generally give his horses two runs in just seven days but believes that the Excites gelding has recovered well from the win and is very well suited to the conditions of the race this weekend.

“He only had his first-up run twenty days ago and he won last Saturday,” Waller said.

“Saturday’s race is the perfect race for him and that is the reason he will most likely run; there is no other suitable race for him for at least two or three weeks.

“He looks terrific and he has taken no harm from his winning run.

“Hence the reason that I think he will be pretty hard to beat.”