The Paul Gardner-trained Zesty Spice is chasing a fourth consecutive win in Alice Springs, and he faces another big test in a Benchmark 76 over 1400m at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
The four-year-old gelding will have his hands full against a small but strong field made up of runners from the Terry Gillett and Kerry Petrick stables.
Great Buy impressed first-up when second over 1200m in open company on January 18, Brat has won three of his past six starts, Venting won last year’s Alice Springs Cup, and Dip Me Lid finished strongly for third over 1600m at BM54 level last Sunday.
Despite a rating of 65, Gardner is optimistic after Zesty Spice decimated his rivals over 1400m in BM54 and 0-64 class in January before repeating the dose over 1400m in 0-70 grade last Sunday.
“It’s a big jump in class, but he’s pulled up a treat after Sunday,” he said.
“If he’s good enough we’ll look at the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) in March.
“It’s a good field on Saturday, but he’s stepped up in his last three races and he’s going well.”
After one win from 11 SA starts for Gawler trainer Brett Campbell, Zesty Spice was a first-up seventh in the Red Centre last July.
From October-December, the gelding had six starts for a win over 1200m and a second over 1400m.
“It took a while to work him out, but we got there,” Gardner said.
“It’s been a pleasant surprise put it that way, but I always thought he had something there.
“Can’t fault him at the moment, you can only win and I’m very happy.”
Gardner stipulated that sending Zesty Spice to the front was never a devised strategy.
“Basically, you’ve got to go forward, especially up here on the dirt tracks,” he said.
“If your horse is close enough they’re always a chance.
“Raymond takes him to the front and gets him into a nice rhythm.
“He gets to the corner and they look like coming at him, but Raymond asks for a bit more and off he goes.
“When Dylan Stanley rode him in November, he won coming from behind.”
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