Siblings to chase two-state stakes double
Durendal will attempt to add the Listed Straight Six to his Standish Handicap win at Flemington on a day when his older half-brother chases an historic second Group One Goodwood in Adelaide.
Durendal resumes in Saturday’s Straight Six (1200m) where he will be joined by stablemate Whistle Baby who will be chasing his first stakes win.
The sprinter won four of his seven starts last campaign which included victory in the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Trainer Simon Zahra said the laid-back Durendal was ticking over nicely but was still carrying condition after a good spell and was weighted up to his best with 59.5kg.
“He’s come back pretty big so he’ll improve a fair bit off the run, but he does go well fresh,” Zahra said.
“He’s had a nice break which he probably needed towards the end of that last preparation and he loves the straight and he’s a real competitor.
“He’ll go really well, I just hope his condition doesn’t give way first-up over 1200 metres.”
Durendal is a younger half-brother to Flamberge who will try to win The Goodwood at Morphettville for the second-straight year on Saturday.
The last horse to win the Goodwood back-to-back was Muskett Belle in 1911-12.
Flamberge is now part of the Mathew Ellerton and Zahra stable, having been trained by Peter Moody to three Group One wins.
Flamberge has had a nice space between his last-start failure in the TJ Smith Stakes, and Zahra said his form shows he races best that way.
“He had a nice jump-out last Friday. He did a little piece of work on Wednesday and he jumps on a truck tonight for Adelaide,” he said.
Group-placed mare Whistle Baby has been doing her recent racing over 1400m but drops back in distance in the Straight Six, with Zahra hoping that will see the mare finish strongly.