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By Ray Hickson

It’s still early days but trainer Kerry Parker feels Flying Bandit has the makings of a smart middle distance horse when the penny finally drops.

Trainer Kerry Parker (Pic: Steve Hart)

The four-year-old has only raced seven times and that’s showing, despite winning three from seven, as Parker says his inexperience is still costing him but he takes a confidence boosting win into his finale for the preparation in Tuesday’s Midway Handicap (1800m) at Randwick.

Parker said the race presents a good opportunity for Flying Bandit to go out on a high and he hopes he returns a more furnished racehorse.

“I think he’s going to make a nice stayer, he’s still learning what it’s all about,’’ Parker said.

“I’m tipping he will learn to balance up quicker. This prep has been about teaching him how to be a racehorse, if he does dour out a little bit we can look at going further.

“We learn a bit more about him next preparation, I know he won two of his first three in his first preparation but he was still doing a bit wrong and is a big horse developing into himself. Hopefully he got some good confidence out of Hawkesbury.

“You’d like to think he could knock that race off and go out for a holiday.”

Flying Bandit, $1.75 with TAB on Sunday, was hampered by wide barriers in his two Midway runs at Randwick, one behind subsequent Group 1 winner El Castello and the other when runner-up to the in-form State Of America.

When Parker dropped him to provincial level at Hawkesbury on October 24 he made light work of his six rivals in a 2000m Benchmark 68.

Another small field at Randwick and another inside barrier gives Parker confidence he’s not going to the well once too often.

“I was contemplating it after his last run but he pulled up so well, and I thought he has another one in him and we’d go again,’’ he said.

“His couple of runs in the Midways were terrific, and the form has held up.

“And I don’t think coming back from a slowly run 2000m at Hawkesbury will be too much of a concern.

“He can use the barrier a bit, when he’s drawn wide he doesn’t have the early tactical speed so you’ve got to go back. A small field, barrier two, it looks promising for him.”

While Flying Bandit is on the way out this spring, Parker kicks off Callistemon’s campaign in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m).

The Kembla Grange trainer had a throw at the stumps in the Queensland Oaks before her winter spell and he said it was an attractive race to start the prep in.

“It’s a big step for her but it’s a Benchmark 64 worth $125,000,’’ he said.

“When she drew one in town I thought we might as well be running in town for that prizemoney than at home from barrier 11.

Flying Bandit wins at Hawkesbury on October 24

The four-year-old has trialled once, just last week at Hawkesbury, and from barrier one Parker hopes she can make a positive start.

“She’s shown there are more wins in her that’s for sure and placed right we can have a bit of fun,’’ he said.

“She’s a nice filly and she tries hard.”

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday’s Big Dance meeting at Randwick