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The pressure hasn’t really been applied to Willinga Rufio as yet but jockey Tyler Schiller is expecting a challenge as the promising three-year-old shoots for three from three at Rosehill on Saturday.
Schiller concedes in his two wins to date the gelding has been afforded comfortable runs in transit, particularly in his Rosehill victory two weeks ago, and is prepared for what might unfold in the Furphy Handicap (1800m).
"There's probably a bit more pressure on the outside of him this week than last time,'' Schiller said.
"If Plan A doesn't work, which will be lead, Plan B will definitely be sit off one and the way he went at Hawkesbury (on debut) I can't see him having any issues with that.
"He relaxes nicely, his racing manners are perfect and he has a great turn of speed when you ask for it."
Punter's Intelligence sectional data revealed Schiller was able to slow things right down in the middle stages of his last start win, running 13.13 (1200m-1000m) and 13.12 (1000m-800m) before upping the ante.
He produced the race's fastest 400m-200m of 11.66 and given he ran the race's second fastest last 600m it was always going to be impossible to catch him.
"He had to do a tiny bit of work early but once he did get there he relaxed like a nice stayer and did everything right,'' Schiller said.
"He went through a couple of cheap sectionals and when I asked him to extend he kept picking up and found the line super strong.
"He was floating along a bit late and if a horse came to him it'll be interesting to see how much more he can find. It feels like there's another three lengths there if something challenges him.''
The Mark Newnham-trained galloper, $3.90 favourite with TAB on Thursday, drops 1kg on that win largely due to taking on four-year-olds this time and the fact that while it was a Benchmark 72 race on paper it was actually weighted as a Benchmark 66 due to the ratings of the horses accepted.
Schiller holds a nine win lead over Reece Jones, who rode four winners last Saturday, in the Apprentice Premiership race and while Willinga Rufio is his key ride at Rosehill he's looking forward to partnering Rupertaar on a good track after her first-up win.
The filly impressed Schiller with how she responded to pressure as she scored at 1100m on a heavy track at Randwick three weeks back given she'd never previously won past 1000m.
"She had no weight that day, she's a little filly but far out she's got a big heart,'' he said.
"She should land in a similar spot behind the leaders and if she shows a turn of foot and the grit late she'll be hard to hold out.
"She's got to carry more weight but going back to a firmer surface should offset that."
Lease has his second run for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou in the Barry Cook Handicap (1300m) after a gutsy third when resuming at Randwick.
He raced wide there before hitting the front on the turn and was beaten a length by Moon Reader, suitably impressing Schiller but he will have to contend with another wide alley on Saturday.
"I didn't want to fire him up because I know with his previous trainer he was a strong horse early,'' he said.
"I was trying to teach him to race a bit kinder and hopefully that works this week.
"He will force forward, if he toes me to the front I wouldn't be disappointed because he was very tough the other day with a wide run."
