John Size is looking to land a third consecutive win in Sunday’s Gr.2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) and has lined up a trio of worthy candidates, featuring last-start victor Full Of Beauty (Darci Brahma), past Champion Sprinter Ivictory (Mossman) and the talented Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt).
The 11-time champion trainer has carried off the prize in the past two seasons with Mr Stunning (2017) and Hot King Prawn (2018), and Full Of Beauty will attempt to emulate the latter by adding this race to a lead-up win in the G3 National Day Cup (1000m).
Size’s rising star won that 1000m dash in a speedy 55.16s under Joao Moreira. That took the Darci Brahma gelding’s overall record to six wins from nine starts to reach a classy rating of 111, 59 points higher than his debut figure – he is set to carry 120lb.
“I think in a handicap he’s competitive, set weights might be a different story but while he’s in the handicap I think he has a good chance. He has a good record now; he did his best at his first start back so it’s a pretty good sign,” Size said.
The five-year-old will now aim to take another step forward, and, following his first-up effort down the straight, Moreira has no worries about returning to the 1200m at which his mount raced exclusively last term for five wins.
“Full Of Beauty has done nothing to suggest that I shouldn’t be believing in and having faith in him, even though he was green last time over the 1000 (metres), that was an excuse as it was his first time in a straight line – he was certainly looking for a corner – so I think going back to the turn is a plus,” Moreira said.
“The other day he was very green and he wasn’t aware of what he was there for, trying to shy away from horses and he didn’t really jump that well but he still made it.”
