Bart Sinclair's Sunshine Coast Preview - Sat 29 Jan, 2022

 
Has age and the handicapper caught up with warhorse stablemates Tyzone and The Harrovian?

It would be premature to categorically declare their best days are behind them but their performances when they clash in the Sunshine Coast Cup over 1400 metres on Saturday will swing public opinion.

Tyzone will carry 60.5kg and The Harrovian just a half kilo less on rain affected ground.

The two eight-year-olds have been marvellous performers for Cairns-based owner Tom Hedley.

Tyzone has won 17 of his 46 starts and collected $1.295 million in stakes. The Harrovian also has won 17 times from 36 starts and his prizemoney is $1.028 million.

The 2020 Stradbroke Handicap winner Tyzone has started just five times subsequently in 19 months without success. He resumed after a year away from racing over an unsuitable 900 metres in heavy conditions at the Gold Coast on January 8.

Even at his best Tyzone would not have threatened at that distance so nothing can be drawn from his seven lengths defeat.

The Harrovian didn’t have a lot of luck when sixth to Tofane in the Stradbroke last June but he has been slightly off his top form in two starts this summer both on soft ground.

Last start The Harrovian was less than a length off the winner Kubrick in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben on Boxing Day. He has a 50 percent strike rate from eight starts at the Cup distance 1400 metres.

The pair are trained by Toby and Trent Edmonds who also have another member of “Dad’s Army” in the Cup with Hard Empire.

Also rising nine Hard Empire had a break of 11 months off the scene until he resumed in the George Moore at Doomben in early December.

He finished a very respectable fourth to Zoustyle in the George Moore and then had two subsequent starts when it was difficult to assess his performances.

Grand performers all one day drift down from the peak of their powers.

For Team Edmonds’ trio of ageing stars it might be too soon to declare that time has come.

And bear one fact in mind. They are not racing Group 1 performers at the Sunny Coast this weekend.