Sydney sprinter Schwarz the second favourite for Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley

Race experience at The Valley will help Sydney galloper Schwarz in his bid to topple dominant favourite Southport Tycoon in Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley.

The Valley circuit will pose no fears for Sydney stallion Schwarz in Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes.

Schwarz is one of nine runners in the $350,000 feature and bookies rated the four-year-old as the best chance to beat the odds-on favourite Southport Tycoon.

Co-trainer Tom Charlton agreed Southport Tycoon, a dual Group 1 winner, loomed as the major obstacle in Schwarz’s bid for a second Group 2 win.

“I think it’s an open race apart from the favourite, who holds the aces in terms of what he’s previously achieved,” Charlton, who trains Schwarz in partnership with John O’Shea, said.

“He’s going to be a hard horse to beat for sure.”

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Despite doing the bulk of his racing in NSW, Schwarz has race experience at The Valley.

The son of Zoustar finished fourth in a Group 3 race around the Australia Stakes course on Cox Plate day in 2023.

Charlton said inexperience, rather than the unique track, was Schwarz’s biggest problem on that day.

“He had his second start at Moonee Valley and he just missed the break that day,” Charlton said.

“In fairness, he has handled the track really well when he has galloped around it a couple of times, so I think it will suit.”

Schwarz is the second favourite in early betting on Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes where he will chase a second Group 2 win. Picture: Getty Images

Schwarz won the Group 2 Missile Stakes earlier in the season before the entire finished midfield down the Flemington straight at his last run in the spring.

Charlton said connections had Group 1 targets in mind for Schwarz if the breeding prospect raced well in the Australia Stakes.

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“Definitely the CF Orr (Stakes) and perhaps the Canterbury Stakes up in Sydney are definitely races we could consider if he was going well enough,” Charlton said.

“It looks like he’s going nicely.

“His trials have been strong, which they normally are, but he put on a good display last week and we’re confident he can run particularly well when he does step out.”

Top jockey Blake Shinn will ride Schwarz in the Australia Stakes.

Schwarz drew the outside barrier in the feature sprint but Charlton was confident the winner of four of nine starts would face no disadvantage.

“He’s a horse that likes control and getting into a rhythm,” Charlton said.

“I know there’s a couple of bits of speed inside him so we’ll need to work it out but we weren’t too bothered by the draw.”

Originally published as Sydney sprinter Schwarz the second favourite for Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley