Schweida upbeat on London Banker and Princess Tenko
Kelly Schweida says he would like to see London Banker “put them to the sword” when the gelding steps out in the second race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The five-year-old has only had three starts for Schweida since arriving from New Zealand earlier in the year, and while he is yet to win one, the son of Tavistock has not missed the placings yet, including two narrow defeats at Eagle Farm in his last two.
This Saturday, London Banker will contest a 2200m Benchmark 78 where he is likely to start favourite now that he is at a more suitable distance.
“He’s only had three runs this time in and he’s gradually getting up to a trip that his best form is over,” Schweida told the Brisbane Racing Club.
“He won three in a row in New Zealand over 2100m.
“You would like to see him put them to the sword and hopefully he can do that Saturday.”
James Orman has partnered London Banker in both metropolitan starts, and the pair should get every chance from barrier seven this weekend.
One runner that has been able to find the winning post this campaign is London Banker’s stablemate Princess Tenko.
The three-year-old filly won her most recent start in all-the-way fashion at Eagle Farm over 1200m and now rises to tougher company and out in trip to 1300m from the wide alley (15).
“Just doing the speed map this morning before I make up my mind, but it looks like she should be able to lead them,” Schweida said.
“We sort of just want to give her a go in a three-year-old (handicap) before the season’s over and then she’ll probably have a break.”
While the daughter of Real Impact is yet to race beyond 1200m, her trainer thinks she will be able to see out the 1300m.
“I think she will run 1350 on her ear,” Schweida said.
“The run was a lot better than it looked the other day.
“The start before she had had about six weeks off and she ran second and she was really jelly-legged after the race and a lot of times at their next start they don’t put in.
“It wasn’t a big margin, but she digs in deep and I think if they’d have went another 100m she’d have just kept going.
“I think she’s well above average, but this time of year – the last thing, they jump out of the woodwork – it’s quite a good field.
“She’s a nice filly. I still haven’t worked out her deal, I think she will run a mile.”
Princess Tenko has been winning by jumping and leading throughout in her races, but Schweida admits that he plans to change that up next campaign.
“Next prep, we’d like to take the blinkers off and ride her back because we’ve done that in a couple of jump outs and she was good,” he said.
“But while they’re winning and running second, it’s really hard to do that, so we’ll leave the blinkers on her (on Saturday), but next time I’m sure we’ll take it off, ride her quiet and I’m sure she’ll run a mile.”
Princess Tenko is currently a $6.50 second-elect in the final race of the day at Eagle Farm behind Eloquently, who is looking to make it six straight wins for the in-form Steven Tregea stable.