Warwick warning on Tycoon's weight
Justin Warwick is confident Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon is fit for his return to racing today, but has warned punters to be wary of his big weight of 60.5kg in the $100,000 Magic Millions Detonator Stakes (1800m).
Warwick has Black Tycoon on trial for next month's $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m), with his first Adelaide start to be in the Group 3 $115,000 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) on March 1.
He will get an insight into his cup opposition when Differing Fortunes and Reckless Assassin clash in today's Listed Birthday Cup (2021m) at Morphettville.
Black Tycoon's rating of 103 forced the handicapper to compress the weights in the Detonator with stablemates Global Flirt and Gum Nut Guru on 55kg, the only other runners in the field of 16 above the 54kg limit.
"He has a big weight to overcome and is not primed to run the race of his life," Warwick said.
"You have to take that into consideration when you are throwing your money at him."
Race rider Paul Harvey rode the eight-year-old in a trial, where he ran on well from last to win by 1¼ lengths in 1min. 29.40sec. over 1450m at Lark Hill last Monday week.
"I would have been surprised if he'd done anything else," Warwick said.
"He was ready to run a good trial. He has a little bit more weight on him than normal, with him having to travel, but he is where he needs to be, but he is not spot on."
Black Tycoon is at the luxury odds of $11 on Tabtouch behind the $3.20 favourite Son Of Something, who has won at his past four Ascot starts, but faces his first test at this level.
Warwick believes the changes he made to Global Flirt's ($15) training routine had sparked the gelding back to winning over 1675m at Bunbury last week.
"I changed a few things around with him," Warwick said.
"He is going very well but the draw (14) makes it awkward."
·Trainer Shane Edwards was successful in having stewards adjourn yesterday's inquiry into allegations he illegally exported thoroughbreds to Singapore and Malaysia from 2008 to 2013.
The inquiry will resume on March 19.
