Eyes on sky for the prize

So Si Bon chasing Aurie’s encore

WITH an eye to brooding skies and forecasts of substantial rain, Tom Dabernig is hoping lightning can strike twice for the enigmatic So Si Bon in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

So Si Bon saluted in the winter sprint last year at $21 before mounting a creditable spring campaign, crowned by a Group 1 second to Scales Of Justice in the Memsie Stakes.

Dabernig hopes the sevenyear-old can kick off his campaign in a positive manner as a TAB $8.50 chance behind Great Again ($4) and Home Of The Brave ($4.40).

“He’s good, and we’ve tried to stick to a similar pattern with him,” the trainer said on Friday. “Last year he had a trial leading into the race when he was wearing blinkers.

“He’s won a trial this time and we’ve left the blinkers off for the race.

“The more rain that comes, the better, because he likes it wet. He also likes a strong tempo, and if he can get the breaks for Mark Zahra, I’m sure he’ll run well.”

With two wins aboard the Lindsay Park favourite, Zahra has a fine record on So Si Bon.

He will carry 60kg in Saturday’s sprint, a rise of 4.5kg on last year.

Patrick Payne’s Widgee Turf ($5.50) looms as a contender because of the gelding’s affinity for Flemington and decent first-up record.

Former Hawkes stable galloper Trope was the subject of significant specking on Friday, firming on TAB from $17 to $11.

Now trained by Julius Sandhu at Cranbourne, Trope’s past three runs have been at Group 1 level — the Newmarket, Oakleigh Plate and Manikato Stakes.

His best run for the Hawkes camp was a charging second to Arcadia Queen in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill last September.