By Adam Hamilton
Tiger Tara will back-up again at Menangle on Saturday night to prime him for the Group 1 Len Smith Mile eight days later.
Trainer Kevin Pizzuto believes another strong hitout is just what the former top class Kiwi pacer needs ahead of chasing his biggest win since moving to Australia.
That’s despite Tiger Tara unleashing a withering finishing sprint off a relatively slow space to rundown Mach Doro and Lennytheshark in last Saturday night’s Group 3 Golden Mile at Menangle. He was privately timed to run a 53.9sec last half.
“I’ve changed a few things around, including his training and his feed, and he’ll benefit from another run this week,” Pizzuto said. “I’m sure he’s better now than he was before the little break we gave him after the Bulli Cup.
“The way we’re doing things now, he will hit line better … finish off his races better.
“Another run this week is just what he needs before the Len Smith. He thrives on the racing.”
Pizzuto said the other key improvement with Tiger Tara during the time in his stable has been his gait.
“It’s something we’ve worked on and he’s certainly pacing a lot better now. Look at the way he came around the last bend at top speed last weekend,” he said.
“He’s also shown he’s at home on tight tracks with the way he’s won and the times he’s run at Penrith.
“I think he’s still on the up and I’m looking forward to the Len Smith then getting up to Queensland for their Carnival.”
Interestingly, Pizzuto said he may focus on the staying race, the Blacks A Fake, and bypass the Sunshine Sprint in Queensland.
“He’d better suited to the Blacks A Fake, especially around the smaller track at Albion Park compared to Menangle,” he said.
Tiger Tara will be one of the major players in what shapes as the strongest Len Smith Mile in many years. Other probable starters include Lennytheshark, Hectorjayjay and My Field Marshall, who was luckless in the Golden Mile last weekend.
All the big names of the Len Smith are then expected to head north for the Queensland Winter Carnival.
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