Morphettville trainer Ken Sweeney is hoping his smart sprinter Riziz can keep his unbeaten Flemington record intact when he steps out in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.
Riziz made it two wins from two starts down the Flemington straight in winning the Listed $120,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 6 adding to his win in the Listed $100,000 A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) last year.
The Adelaide sprinter will be facing some stiffer opposition on Saturday, coming up against dual Group 1 winner Luckygray, Australian Guineas winner Ferlax and Queensland sprinter Temple Of Boom who also has a liking for Flemington with three wins down the famous straight course.
Sweeney is hoping a 1.5kg drop in weight and race fitness will give the five year old an advantage over his better credentialed opposition.
“He is a very fit horse and he is getting into the race reasonably well,” Sweeney told the Sportsman.
“He likes the sting out of the ground and we will keep him going while that’s around.”
“He is not a top class horse but he is a nice horse.”
“You just don’t know how they will handle it when they are going up in grade. He’s never meet that sort of horse before.”
Sweeney did test Riziz at Group 1 level during the Winter and he performed creditably when seventh to Platelet in the $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville, finishing less than two lengths form the winner.
Riziz is the winner of four Listed races and bookmakers have installed him the $3.40 favourite for the Aurie’s Star to win his first race at Group level.
Luckygray has been listed the second pick at $4.60 while Group 1 Galaxy winner Temple Of Boom is a $5 chance.