Top jockey Tim Clark says Mayfair only needs to reproduce his spring form to put himself in pole position for a first-up win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick.
The colt is a $4.40 third pick in early markets for Saturday’s Group 3 contest, behind $2.70 favourite Gatsby’s and the newly gelded Linebacker ($4.20).
Returning for just his second racing preparation, Mayfair did a tremendous job to progress from breaking his maiden at his second start in July to stringing together four successive black-type placings, culminating in his third behind star colts Broadsiding and Traffic Warden in the Golden Rose.
His only unplaced run in six starts came in the Caulfield Guineas and Clark said the Tulloch Lodge three-year-old was on target to give the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) a serious shake first-up.
“He showed his toughness at his first prep. He went really deep into it and kept performing really well up until the Caulfield Guineas.,” Clark said.
“Any of those first four or five runs in his career, if he reproduces one of those on Saturday he will be the horse to beat.
“He put in a really nice piece of work on Tuesday morning. He is a happy horse and he’s well within himself.
“He will probably be better suited when he gets out over a little bit further, but he is forward and ready to go on Saturday.”
The three-year-old has the outside alley in a field reduced to nine by the scratching of dual acceptor Point And Shoot.
Given Mayfair’s natural gate speed, Clark expects him to appreciate a wide draw and has been encouraged by his two trials, including a recent second to the speedy Insurrection.
“It’s probably a perfect gate for him. I will just let him stride forward and get there under his own steam,” he said.
“His first trial back was really good then the other day, it was a bit of a sit and sprint and the leader just outsprinted him a bit. But I thought late and through the line he was really good.”
Clark is booked for Mayfair’s stablemate and first emergency Bellazaine in the Inglis Millennium (1100m) and says the filly will be competitive if she gains a run.
Midfield from an outside draw in the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) in October, the daughter of Zousain has won two recent trials with Clark in the saddle.
“She has always been a lovely filly. A very strong filly, an absolute pleasure to do anything with. She is just an absolute ripper,” Clark said.
“Hopefully she does get her opportunity to line up in the Millennium. She will run well if she does.”