Newmarket trainer Ed Walker is plotting another raid on Yorkshire racecourses when Mezajy runs in the feature race at Beverley Racecourse on Wednesday.
Five days after having saddled Lightning Moon in the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster, the Walker team return north for the £10,000 Bet totetrifecta Handicap on the Westwood.
Mezajy is one of the most experienced horses in a competitive seven-runner field and was last seen chasing home the well-regarded Haalan in a 10-furlong handicap at Yarmouth on August 30.
Walker, though, is convinced the three-year-old son of Makfi will take his game to the next level at Beverley when he steps up in trip to a mile and a half.
He said: “I’ve probably been a bit guilty of trying to be too clever by sneaking another win out of him over 10 (furlongs).
“With that in mind, I’m sure the rise to a mile and a half will be ideal.
“He ran a great race at Yarmouth – the winner just got first run on him – and, one blip aside at Newbury, he hasn’t done a great deal wrong on a racecourse.
“He will love any more rain that falls – he is out of Makfi and they seem to like a bit of cut – and he should relish the ground at Beverley if it’s on the easy side.
“This looks a hot race, but it’s good prize-money and I think he’s ready for the challenge.”
Mezajy’s esteemed stablemate Lightning Moon was well beaten in the Park Stakes – his first start over seven furlongs and his first outing since May – but Walker was far from disheartened.
“He did need the run,” said the Warren Place handler.
“We were in a bit of a rush to get to Doncaster because I wanted to get a prep run into him for his main target which was, and probably still is, the Foret at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
“He’ll also be entered in the Bengough over six furlongs at Ascot, which he won last year, as a back-up plan, but I’m still pretty adamant he’s a seven-furlong horse.
“If you didn’t know the horse you’d say he didn’t stay at Doncaster, but I’m sticking to the belief he got tired, rather than didn’t get the trip.”
Beverley’s eight-race meeting on Wednesday begins at 2.05pm, with the official going on Tuesday morning described as good.
The forecast on raceday is for sunny intervals, with temperatures set to reach 15C.
