Border-based trainer Craig Widdison is counting on the value of race experience when Jarbardar travels to Caulfield.
The two-year-old, who claimed victory on debut at Wagga last month, is scheduled to compete in the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1100m) this Saturday.
Widdison had entered the gelding in the Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday, but Caulfield remained the top choice.
“The better draw and shorter trip certainly made up our mind, but the preference was Caulfield all along,” Widdison said.
“With a two-year-old, it’s a long way to go from here in Wodonga and the barrier made the decision pretty easy for us.”
The colt was transported from Wodonga across the border to Wagga for his first start, where he started as the heavily supported $1.35 favourite.
Widdison noted that the backing for the gelding came as no shock.
“He’s done everything right and he’s a nice type of horse and his trial at Corowa was really good beforehand,” Widdison said.
“He ran faster time than the open trial that day.
He was still very new doing it all, but the time was there and we thought he would be pretty hard to beat at Wagga.”
Although two of his three public outings were on right-handed tracks, Widdison indicated Jarbardar handles left-handed circuits proficiently.
Being based in Wodonga, most of the gelding’s training has occurred left-handed, though he adapts well to both directions.
Widdison expects to gain further insight into Jarbardar following Saturday’s run, viewing him as talented as any juvenile he has trained since establishing in Wodonga in 2016.
“He shows great ability here, as much as any young horse I’ve had up here, and now he’s got to take that step to city grade,” Widdison said.
“We’ll learn a lot more about him after Saturday as there has been a fair few that have trialled well.
It’s always hard when you go down the line, but he’s exciting for us, anyway.”
Jason Lyon will retain the mount on Jarbardar after guiding him to success on debut.
Lyon seldom ventures to metropolitan meetings, with just 10 city rides over the past five years, all at $31 or higher odds.
However, Widdison pointed out that Lyon rides regularly for the stable and performed well at Wagga.
“Going down there, it’s nice to have someone on that knows the horse,” Widdison said.
“He can be a bit of lad, the horse, so any little help is a bonus.”
Jarbardar sits at $7 as the second elect in betting, behind $2.40 favourite Natural Fling, a debut runner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy yard.
Explore the online bookmakers for the top racing betting markets on the Sportsbet Feed Handicap at Caulfield.