Tim Clark hopes to make the perfect start to Everest day at Randwick when he rides favourite Postcode in the opening event on a bumper 10-race card.
Clark, who partners Nature Strip in the $14 million feature, has nine rides on Saturday’s program and Postcode shapes as one of his best.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Postcode finished runner-up to Global Quest on debut in the Breeders’ Plate and is a short-priced favourite to go one better in the Victory Vein Stakes (1000m).
All but one of his rivals are first starters and Clark expects Postcode’s race day experience to prove invaluable.
“I think it’s a big thing to have that experience,” Clark said.
“It helps them so much. Just getting out there and having done it and having that experience of the race day itself.
“It’s going to be a huge day, the crowd is going to be massive and it gives them a head start for sure.”
A son of Waterhouse’s 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, Postcode settled midfield in the Breeders’ Plate and was beaten a length by the winner, although Clark felt he could have made the race interesting with better luck.
“I’m not saying he should have won but he should have finished closer, he just got held up a little bit,” Clark said.
“He’s a nice colt. I was really pleased with what he did on debut and he doesn’t need to improve to win on Saturday, he just has to hold that form.”
Postcode holds favouritism over Circularity, who finished fifth in the Breeders’ Plate after racing on speed.
The Gerald Ryan-trained Time Is Precious is regarded as the best of the unraced brigade at $8.
The beautifully bred filly is by Snitzel out of Group One placegetter Rose Of Sharon and was not overtaxed to finish second in a Warwick Farm barrier trial.