Handicapper's big task to even the game with Taverner

The handicapper goes back to work today to see how to even the game with Taverner, David Hall's exciting sprinter, after he defied a ratings surge to toy once again with average opposition up the straight. \Taverner was part of an exciting double for Hall and jockey Brett Prebble, who later won with Algarve, and punters who accepted the long odds-on were never concerned as he did something even Silent Witness had not had been asked to do. "I know he's won the race today but to go up 16 poin

\Taverner was part of an exciting double for Hall and jockey Brett Prebble, who later won with Algarve, and punters who accepted the long odds-on were never concerned as he did something even Silent Witness had not had been asked to do. "I know he's won the race today but to go up 16 points after his first win - Silent Witness only went up 15," said Hall.

"Clearly, we have a horse with some potential because he's won well again but I hope the handicapper isn't too hard on him. He beat Classic Navigator the first start and Shy Baldy today. I'd like to see him get another chance to run in Class Three because he is still inexperienced and having to do it too tough in Class Two at this stage won't help his development."

Prebble said he rode Taverner close again because he is concerned that inexperience will come against him once he is among horses.

"He wasn't the best away and really doesn't want to be ridden for speed because we know he's going to get longer, but I was worried it could all go pear-shaped getting in behind horses," he said. "Taverner's just so new. He's probably at the stage where David can go to 1,200m, but there are flaws in his make up just yet that he's overcoming through his natural ability."

On what was a standout day for International Sale horses, who won half the card, the Hall-trained pair stood out as horses going somewhere quickly and Algarve's return promised much better, too. "Mentally he's matured and that has been the key point," said Prebble.

"He's a lovely stayer in the making and he's got the finishing speed that can make a stayer a cut above the ordinary. He did well to win it really because the pace slackened for no reason at the 700m and Algarve went straight into the horses in front and nearly came down."

Hall said Algarve's trial win had shown everyone the four-year-old had taken a step during his break since winning on the final day last season, but he had saved him for yesterday's event, particularly. "He looked pretty attractive at the bottom of Class Three off a 61 rating and I could have run him earlier, but I saw this race in the programme with a 65-rating top weight and that allowed him to get another crack at Class Four horses so I kept him for this," he said.

"Algarve is on his way now and looks progressive. It works nicely with these kinds of horses with a bit of scope, giving them the one or two races late in the season and then they do take something from it during the summer break.

"He's shown us how well he's come back, he's certainly going to get further, so we'll see just what we've got as he progresses." (www.racing.scmp.com)