Weather to decide Beau Balmain’s next run

Trainer Jim Conlan hopes the predicted rain in Melbourne does not eventuate for German import Beau Balmain who is scheduled to have his second Australian start at Sandown.

Beau Balmain is weighted on the minimum of 54kg in the fifth heat of the Banjo Patterson Series (2100m) on Saturday with Conlan keeping a close eye on the weather.

“He’s never raced on a heavy track so I’ll discuss it with the owners to see what they think,” Conlan said.

“It might be the opportunity to see if he handles it with 54 kilos, but at this stage the plan is to go around.”

The lightly raced German import made his Australian debut at Caulfield on June 1, finishing third over 2000m behind Pacodali who heads the weights on Saturday.

Beau Balmain missed an important trial at Cranbourne on the Monday before which Conlan said possibly cost him victory.

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“If he’d had that trial under his belt I wouldn’t have had him ridden quite as conservatively as he was,” Conlan said.

“He made some nice ground coming to the turn and then he probably peaked on his run in the last 100 metres.

“He well and truly had third place covered so Mick (Michael Dee) just let him coast home and since then I think he’s really gone on with it.”

Conlan has a back-up option of a 2500m-race at Flemington on Saturday week should he decide against Saturday’s option.

Then there is the final of the Banjo Patterson Series (2600m) at Flemington on July 6.

“Our idea is to get him up in the ratings to get a look in some of the better races through the spring,” Conlan said.

“If he had won at Caulfield he might have gone to a 91 rating then if he wins at his next start, being either this one or next week at Flemington, he’d have been closer to the 100 mark which would put us in a nicer position for the spring.”