The weight imposed on Tentyris is no concern for jockey Mark Zahra, who expects the colt to conquer the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

Victory in Saturday’s Group 1 1200m handicap at Flemington would see Tentyris equal Ajax’s 1938 weight-carrying mark.

57kg is precisely the load Fastnet Rock bore at three years old, finishing second to Alinghi in the 2005 Newmarket after Group 1 Lightning Stakes and Oakleigh Plate wins.

From a stellar spring that boasted the Coolmore Stud Stakes over the same Flemington straight during Melbourne Cup carnival, Tentyris resumed to win the Lightning Stakes February 14.

“I don’t think weight has got much to do with it as I’m a heavy weight jockey,” Zahra said.

“All the rating’s gurus might think a bit different, but I worked him Monday and he absolutely flew.

“He’s flying, so I don’t think the weight will stop him.”

Zahra resumed riding successfully at Caulfield Heath Wednesday after injury sidelined him.

With two superb three-year-olds targeting autumn riches, he pushed his recovery to the edge.

He fell short of partnering Observer to glory in the Australian Guineas last week but prioritised Tentyris‘ Newmarket bid.

“If it had of been any other time, I probably would have taken my time with it, but I just couldn’t afford to,” Zahra said.

“The horses I had lined up for autumn, was unbelievable.

“I was trying to get back for Observer, but the doctor said that was five weeks and that might be pushing it a bit, but when you have a goal, for a horse like this, it definitely helps getting up early, getting to physio twice a week and that sort of stuff.”

His tibia sustained a ‘v’ fracture high up, avoiding ACL damage by good fortune.

“They said you don’t break that bone without doing the ACL, so that was one good thing, I suppose,” Zahra said.

“I was non-weight bearing for 10 days and after that I was straight back into it, but I was doing some rehab when I was on crutches.

“The surgeon said you will know when you’ve done too much, it will swell up and be sore. I pushed it to the limit most of the way, and it’s absolutely fine now.”

Zahra boasts a record of five rides on Tentyris from eight starts, with two wins on Flemington’s straight in his three triumphs.

Once Zahra and trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman adapted, Flemington proved ideal for Tentyris’ method.

“If you get his first half of the race right and he’s happy, you can see he pins his ears back and lets fly,” Zahra said.

“The straight really suits him. You don’t have to chase to keep in touch and when you do that, it takes his finish away.

“He’s a funny horse, he doesn’t want to go early, but the further he goes, he knows, and halfway through he will start to bridle up and then by the 300 (metres), if he’s on song, you’re skiing off him and he’s ready to let rip.

“He’s a beast.”

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