Testarhythm's caretaker trainer Kris Lees expects the colt to be able to take up a good position from barrier five in Saturday's rich Inglis Classic where he takes on boom filly Chance Bye.Lees is training Testarhythm for fellow Newcastle horseman Darren Smith who is serving a disqualification.The Testa Rossa colt comes into the 1200 metre $250,000 race at Rosehill after an eye-catching debut at the same venue last Saturday.On that occasion, barrier 10 forced jockey Hugh Bowman's hand and Testar
Testarhythm's caretaker trainer Kris Lees expects the colt to be able to take up a good position from barrier five in Saturday's rich Inglis Classic where he takes on boom filly Chance Bye.
Lees is training Testarhythm for fellow Newcastle horseman Darren Smith who is serving a disqualification.
The Testa Rossa colt comes into the 1200 metre $250,000 race at Rosehill after an eye-catching debut at the same venue last Saturday.
On that occasion, barrier 10 forced jockey Hugh Bowman's hand and Testarhythm was taken out the back early.
Testarhythm made up plenty of ground in the closing stages and ended up a short neck second to Top Drop over 1100 metres.
Jim Cassidy takes over from Bowman who is riding Atapi in the $1 million Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in New Zealand on Saturday.
"He did well to take second, running from the back. Because of that wide barrier we had to race him a little conservatively," Lees said.
"He's pulled up well from his debut and seems to be in good order and should put in a good effort this weekend."
Testarhythm has been a slight drifter on TAB Sportsbet where he was out from $4.40 to $4.80 on Friday.
Chance Bye remains the solid favourite, tightening from her opening quote of $1.90 to $1.70.
"Chance Bye looks like the one to beat for sure. You have to give her a lot of respect," Lees said.
The Michael Tubman-trained Chance Bye burst onto the scene with a dominant all-the-way victory in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick in December with Kathy O'Hara aboard.
The Snitzel filly faces a tougher assignment than her debut after drawing the widest barrier, 10, in the Classic.
Lees has already made his mark on two-year-old racing this season with the well-related Elimbari scoring a narrow but impressive debut win at Rosehill last Saturday.
Elimbari is among the entries for the next month's Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield with the Widden Stakes in Sydney also an option.
The filly is a three-quarter sister to the brilliant juvenile Amelia's Dream whose career was cut short by injury.
Elimbari fought out the finish of the Schweppes Mineral Water Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill with Celts.
Smith is awaiting a decision on his licence application.
Hot temperatures are forecast in Sydney and other parts of NSW with protocols in place to ensure the safety of horses and jockeys.
Officials will monitor the wet bulb thermometer readings which measure humidity and horses will not have to arrive on track until an hour before they race.