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By Ray Hickson

Interstate raider Harry’s Yacht isn’t heading to Gosford on Saturday for a cruise, co-trainer Will Larkin says the promising gelding means business as he aims to improve his chances of a Group 1 tilt.

Trainer Will Larkin.

Like a number of his rivals in the Listed $250,000 De Bortoli Wines Takeover Target Stakes (1200m), the four-year-old has designs on securing a spot in the Stradbroke Handicap so Larkin said it’s important he performs.

Harry’s Yacht completed his build up to the race with a gallop at Scone, where the Malua Racing team has a few horses based, on Tuesday and Larkin was pleased with what he saw.

“He’s pretty screwed down to hopefully get the job done,’’ Larkin said.

“We have aims to get him into the Stradbroke and he needs to lift that rating a bit so hopefully we can win a race on the way up.

“Since the run at Caulfield he spent eight days in the paddock to freshen him up and he only needed the one trial to bring him up to the mark. So he’s very forward for Saturday.”

That Caulfield appearance realised a strong finishing win over 1400m, running down Al Duca who subsequently won twice including a Listed race.

“It was a tough day to make ground that day so he did a good job to come from last,’’ Larkin said.

“I thought he would sit a bit closer than he did but he’s going a good job and he just keeps raising the bar.”

Ashley Morgan takes the ride on Harry’s Yacht, $4.80 with TAB on Thursday, and Larkin said he’ll have options when it comes to where the horse settles in the run.

While he did round them up from the back in his latest win his previous two wins came from on top of the speed, albeit at 1400m.

“He’s very tractable, he can go forward if you need to and if you go back he runs on,’’ he said.

“He’s the perfect horse in that sense, you can ride him how you find him and he’ll give you his best.

“He’s a trier that’s for sure, he’s got good ability and being a four-year-old he’s going to continue to improve. He’s an exciting one because we still think the best is in front of him.

“A Stradbroke is the dream but there will be plenty of races around for him.

“He has the class, he’s still improving I think and whatever he does over this carnival he is going to continue to improve into the spring.”

The stable border hopped successfully last weekend to take out the Boorowa Picnic Cup with Ceremonious, who carried 72kg to victory.

Harry's Yacht sails on by and favourite backers are smiling ⛵@jamieleemelham @maluaracing pic.twitter.com/01RwXOcUf8

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 14, 2026

Harry's Yacht wins at Caulfield in March (Video: 7HorseRacing on X)

Larkin, and co-trainers Leon and Troy Corstens, won a couple of trials at Muswellbrook on Wednesday with the two horses they have aiming at the Scone carnival.

Zou Sensation, a six-year-old gelding, is set to run in the Listed Luskin Star (1300m) while the stable hopes the lightly raced Verdoux can gain a start in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Gosford meeting