Progressive gelding Axius has an unknown top end according to rider Tim Clark, who is keen to discover more when the sprinter tackles stakes level at Randwick.
Saturday’s Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) awaits the four-year-old, resuming post his standout triumph in January’s Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) at the Gold Coast with Clark steering.
“He’s been a horse that has been threatening to do something like he did,” Clark said.
“He’s a big, tough, headstrong Justify gelding who really enjoyed riding the back of that good speed at the Gold Coast.
“It was a dominant performance up there and he still gets into this race with a very light weight.”
Axius gets the minimum 53.5kg impost for Saturday, as handicapper Coal Crusher shoulders the top weight of 58kg.
Facing him is The Instructor, who trailed Axius at the Gold Coast but has performed creditably since, including a near-miss in Group company locally and a solid fourth behind champion Autumn Glow in the Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Clark eyes a positive showing from Axius relative to The Instructor’s form.
“He’s an interesting runner to see where he measures up,” Clark said of his mount.
“He beat The Instructor home at the Gold Coast and meets him better at the weights on Saturday.
“This race on Saturday is probably going to decide his future plans through the autumn and the winter and how high they can aim with him. But he has barely put a foot wrong during his career, and they’ve been very patient with him, so they’re getting the rewards now.”
Axius, under Ciaron Maher’s guidance, carries nominations into the Sydney autumn carnival’s Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Check the racing betting markets ahead of the Liverpool City Cup.