KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - A sharp rise in the weights and another wide draw haven't dampened stable confidence around New Zealand stayer Mandela in tomorrow's Premier's Cup (2200m) at Doomben in Brisbane.
Trainer Richard Yuill made no secret of the fact Mandela was the star trackworker on Tuesday to cement his likely favouritism in the group three race, worth A$125,000.
"Word got around - it was very good work. He was just going there to have a hit-out but he did very well," Yuill said.
"You never get over-confident but I wouldn't like to swap him for any other in the race."
Yuill said Mandela ran his last 1000m in one minute one second, the 800m in 50s and the last 600m in 37s.
Mandela carries 58kg topweight tomorrow, a 3kg jump on his comfortable last-start victory over similar opposition in the Chairman's Handicap (2020m) at Doomben on May 12.
Runner-up Mirkola Lass, another New Zealand raider trained by Kenny Rae, jumps just 1kg to 54kg while third-placed Bikkie Tin Blues rises 0.5kg to 56kg.
"It's a bit of a surprise he's jumped that far in the weights but he should carry it okay," Yuill said.
The barrier draw of 13 in the 19-horse field is a luxury compared to the outside barrier jockey Darren Beadman had to overcome in the Chairman's.
Beadman retains the mount and shared Yuill's confidence.
"He's a nice horse and was grades above them the other day," Beadman told the Racenet website.
"I think he's going places. He's got his fair share of weight but I think he was open to improvement from that run."
Beadman is keen to ride Mandela in his next start in the group two Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 11 but needs to be free of commitments to the John Hawkes stable.
Yuill, who hopes to set Mandela for a second tilt at the Melbourne Cup after his ninth placing last year, said the 5-year-old Ebony Grosve gelding was at last finding his feet as a stayer.
There are six other Kiwi-trained runners in the Premier's: Mirkola Lass; Cypress Point, who was a fast-finishing fifth in the Chairman's; his stablemates Ritzy Lady and Madame Shinko; So You and Jotilla.
- NZPA
