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Andrew Adkins hasn’t claimed 2kg for quite a while but trainer Matthew Dunn says his ability to utilise Yamazaki’s true weight in Saturday’s $1 million TAB Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange is a boost to the mare’s chances.
A number of horses in The Gong are making use of the true weight which allows trainers to 'claim' down to 52kg (before the use of any apprentice claim), a weight lower than Yamazaki has ever carried in her 41 starts.
The six-year-old is a $34 chance with TAB in the feature but Matthew Dunn says blinkers, the light weight and a favourable gate give him the chance to dispel what sees is a myth about the horse.
"I'd like to try to move on from the idea of her having to get out the back door and getting past all of them,'' he said.
"She doesn't need to do that any more, not that you can ever ride her on the speed but she doesn't need to be last.
"Her barrier manners are good enough now to take a position if we draw a gate.
"Hugh (Bowman) proved it in Brisbane, he took off midrace on her. She was beaten but she was gallant and went down fighting."
The mare was narrowly beaten by Exoboom in the Filante Handicap (1400m) second-up from a spell and Dunn is forgiving of her seventh in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago given it was hard to make ground.
Adkins has never ridden Yamazaki before but Dunn found his ability to ride the true weight appealing.
"There's not much wrong with Andrew, he's as good as most of them,'' he said.
"You've got a senior rider who has won a Group 1 race and he's claiming two. It's something that can make a big difference in a race like this."
The track condition could be crucial, while she's won on a soft 6 she's only been exposed to a heavy track once but that was in a 1200m Group 2 and she was spelled straight after
Dunn said wherever Adkins is able to position Yamazaki he'd like the mare get into some clear air as he's convinced she's not a 'duck and weave' type of horse and would like to get full advantage from the blinkers.
"It sounds brave going to a mile but she's never had them on in her life,'' he said.
"Her best races have been when she gets to the outside. That might be because they've gone fast, when they go quick you can peel off. I'm sure she's better out of traffic."
