Veteran Cairns trainer Roy Chillemi realises it may be mission impossible for his "little bulldog'' Tyzone to conquer Saturday's Cleveland Bay Open Handicap (1200m) in Townsville.
The talented three-year-old gelding not only has to lug 57kg against older and more seasoned horses but he has drawn barrier 21 in the $100,000 sprint.
But there is one thing that Chillemi knows for sure about the son of Written Tycoon, which has won 10 from 14 including a Saturday race at Doomben in February.
The galloper who has only been out of the placings once in his career will be up for a fight.
"Tyzone is a little bulldog who just wants to run and run and run, he can cop a bump or a setback in a race and it doesn't worry him," Chillemi said.
"I know he faces a big task on the weekend, and it is all a bit scary, but he will be trying his guts out."
Chillemi, 68, has had plenty of good horses in his 35-year training career but believes Tyzone is one of the best youngsters he has ever put a saddle on.
And the veteran trainer says Tyzone may be the last really good horse he has, as he plans to retire from the training caper when he turns 70.
Tyzone is far from being just a country galloper, having beaten a good field at Doomben earlier this year and being unlucky in his first metropolitan race at Eagle Farm when he ran fourth behind Oink.
And racegoers in Brisbane and Sydney are likely to be seeing a lot more of the sprinter next year.
"If he continues to improve, the handicapper will take charge of him and there will be no place for him to race in north Queensland," Chillemi said.
"He is likely to spell after the Cleveland Bay, he is only a small horse so I want him to grow into himself and mature.
"Next year, he almost certainly will be handicapped out of racing in north Queensland.
"So we will have to decide whether we want to go to Brisbane again with him or bypass Brisbane and go to Sydney."
North Queensland champion Sea Zulu was the last three-year-old to win the Cleveland Bay, in 2006, but he only carried 53kg.
Townsville race caller Tony Wode believes Tyzone, who has won his last four races, could be one of the best young horses to come out of north Queensland in many years.
Betting agency UBET is expected to have odds up on the Cleveland Bay Handicap and Saturday's Townsville Cup (2000m) late on Wednesday.
