Trainer Pat Duff believes Magic Millions Trophy winner Heart Of the Citi is only just starting to hit peak form yet he may soon be forced to end his campaign.Heart Of The Citi will line up for possibly his second last start this preparation in Saturday's Rohrig Constructions handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm and Duff has decided to again claim on the five-year-old.Heart Of the Citi underwent knee surgery prior to the start of his current campaign and took several runs to trim down to his racing wei

Trainer Pat Duff believes Magic Millions Trophy winner Heart Of the Citi is only just starting to hit peak form yet he may soon be forced to end his campaign.

Heart Of The Citi will line up for possibly his second last start this preparation in Saturday's Rohrig Constructions handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm and Duff has decided to again claim on the five-year-old.

Heart Of the Citi underwent knee surgery prior to the start of his current campaign and took several runs to trim down to his racing weight before breaking through at his fifth run back over 1350 metres at Doomben on August 22.

Duff then backed up the son of Show A Heart the following week at Doomben when he ran a gallant second to Newcastle sprinter Pins On Parade in a 1200-metre Class Six Plate.

"He's just starting to hit his straps and it's unfortunate but I'm thinking of giving him a short break after one more run," Duff said.

"He can't keep racing through to January when I want to run him in the Magic Millions Cup.

"He had a knee operation after his last campaign but he hasn't shown us any signs of problems."

Duff has always rated Heart Of The Citi highly but never contemplated sending him south for the major spring races in Sydney and Melbourne.

"He's a good horse and I've got a high opinion of him but he's better placed racing here in Brisbane," he said.

Duff is confident Heart of The Citi will again race competitively following his decision to retain apprentice Michael Hellyer's three kilogram claim.

"Michael won on him at Doomben and rode him again when I backed him up last start," Duff said.

"He's got 55.5 kilos this time and Michael's claim will help a lot.

"The form horse in the race is Sommersea Drive who won well at Doomben last time and I suspect he will be the hardest to beat again."

Hellyer has emerged as the latest gun apprentice in Queensland after joining Duff's stables late last year.

Born in Wollongong, south of Sydney, Hellyer rode a midweek treble at Doomben last week.

Hellyer had adapted well to the controversial new whip rules which came into force at the start of the season.

Prior to the introduction of the new whip rules, Hellyer sought the advice of champion jockey Darren Beadman who advised the young rider to use the whip as a last resort.