Tarzino is set to fire heading back to the open spaces at Flemington for the Group 1 $500,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Tarzino, above, will appreciate the bigger track at Flemington when he runs in the Makybe DIva Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Mick Price trained Tarzino has run some of his best races at Flemington including a win in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and returned in the Autumn to be beaten a nose by Palentino in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m).
The Darren Weir trained Palentino is one of twelve rivals Tarzino is set to take on in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
“He’ll (Tarzino) be suited by the long run-in at Flemington and will hit the line strongly,” Price told The Herald Sun.
“He’s going really well., I’m mindful he’s still got a lot ahead of him, but he’ll balance up out the back and I’m looking forward to seeing him wind up.”
Price said that Tarzino pulled up in great order, despite a mention in the stewards’ report, following his first up eighth to Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 27.
“He pulled up fine after the race and I really don’t know what the report was about with the stewards,” Price said.
“We took him home and trotted him up at about 5.30 and he was absolutely fine. There is certainly no issue with his off hind as they reported in the steward’s report.”
“He’s never had a problem behind and I have had two of my vets look over him this morning (Sunday) and there is not even a suggestion of a problem.”
Price is aiming Tarzino towards the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 15 and will have his next run after the Makybe Diva Stakes in the Group 1 $500,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 24.
“Then it’s going to be bang into the Underwood, the Turnbull and the Caulfield Cup,” Price said.
The Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart continues to dominate the betting for the Makybe Diva Stakes and is the $2.30 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au with his nearest rival in the market order being stablemate Palentino at $6.
The Lindsay Park trained Rising Romance is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $9 and heads to Flemington after claiming second spot behind Black Heart Bart in the Memsie Stakes while Tarzino is marked at $11.
Market order for the Makybe Diva Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.30 Black Heart Bart, $6 Palentino, $9 Rising Romance, $11 Tarzino, Our Ivanhowe, $14 Alpine Eagle, Entirely Platinum, $19 He Or She, $21 Sofia Rosa, $26 Jacquinot Bay, $34 Happy Trails, $61 Prince Of Penzance, $151 Ayres Rock.
