King Frankel has won four of his five starts for Mark Newnham and his Parramatta Cup win first-up over 1900m last month, where he wore down a race fit tearaway leader in Banju, was an indication he's taken the step up in class in his stride.
It's another test for him in the Group 3 $350,000 Furphy Sky High Stakes (2000m) but Tyler Schiller said he can only be better for what he described as a remarkable first-up win.
"First-up it's never easy, last time first-up Mark gave him one trial and this time he gave him two because he was up against tougher opposition,'' he said.
"He rose to the occasion really well and I thought late he was building again. Fingers crossed going up in trip his next few starts he'll keep showing more again.
"I'm pretty confident he will run two miles. He's not very big but he has a big heart and he'll have no weight down on 50kg (in the Sydney Cup)."
What Schiller particularly liked about King Frankel's win was the amount of work he had to do to eat into Banju's lead after he had established a sizeable gap midrace.
"It was a good challenge, Banju is in form and fit and it was a good tussle down the straight. For him to get the better of Banju being first-up it shows the grit the horse has,'' he said.
"He had to drag the field up last time which isn't easy, especially when the leader is bowling along at a good speed.
"You're trying not to get there too soon but trying not to let him get away with it. I think he has plenty of determination and a big heart to do what he does."
The Sky High includes the past two Sydney Cup winners Knights Order and Selino, The Metropolitan winner No Compromise and a number of imports making their local debut including the William Haggas trained Protagonist.
So Schiller says if King Frankel, $4 with TAB on Thursday and $15 in the $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup, can hold his own it'll be a good pointer towards his Cup prospects.
"He's in-form, he's on the up and he's a very good stayer,'' he said.
"If he can beat a field like that he's right in contention going forward."
The 24-year-old has his fifth Group 1 ride when he partners Newnham's front-running mare Expat in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on the back of a plucky first-up performance.
While noted more as a wet tracker, Expat gave a huge sight in the Millie Fox (1300m) three weeks ago when run down by subsequent Canterbury Stakes placegetter Electric Girl on a good track.
"I thought she was exceptional. She can run on good tracks but on soft tracks it takes the sprint out of other horses,'' he said.
"I reckon Expat is up to it, she's drawn a gate and she's come back very well.
"She's going to have to do it the tradesman's way out in front on a good track but if she gives a kick like last time the 1500m is going to suit her down to the ground."
