The Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap is the signature event at Flemington this Saturday, but one of the support races could upstage it as the most anticipated race of the day.
Boom import Berkshire Breeze will be looking to extend his winning streak to four in the 2500-metre Quality Handicap.
The grey gelding powered up Melbourne Cup odds charts with two 4-3/4-length wins at Flemington on June 8 and July 6 and trainer Ciaron Maher is using Saturday’s $150,000 race as his final lead-up to next month’s Group 3 The Archer (2500m), where a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption will be on the line.
“We can’t fault him, he’s in really good form, we’ve just got hope and pray that he stays healthy and safe,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
“We’ve got him where we want him, he’s very fit, and it’s just about maintaining it.
“This run again will bring him on then we’ll have him even better for The Archer.”
Berkshire Breeze won two of 10 starts in Europe when trained by Andrew Balding but joined Maher last year and had one start last Spring, finishing seventh, beaten 2-3/4 lengths.
The son of Mastercraftsman resumed with a second placing at Caulfield before winning over 2025m at Cranbourne ahead of his two Flemington wins, over 2520m and 2600m respectively.
Saturday is likely to present a different scenario for Berkshire Breeze with Tancred Stakes winner Kalapour, well-performed Loyd Williams-owned imports Post Impressionist, Adelaide River and Changingoftheguard and Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans also among the 22 entries.
The presence of any of those gallopers will ensure Berkshire Breeze, who has won with 56kg and 54.5kg at his past two, stays down in the weights.
The 2500m event is one of nine races at Victoria’s first metropolitan meeting of the season, which is headlined by the $200,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap.
That 1200m event has attracted 15 entries, including past winners It’sourtime and The Astrologist, Group 2 winner Pinstriped and last-start winners Zarastro, Right To Party, Astero and La Danseuse Rouge.