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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Lauri Parker considers herself something of a jinx when it comes to in-form stayer Torrens so don’t expect to see her at Newcastle on Saturday as he chases his third win from his past four starts.

While the entire has been a work in progress since Parker took him over earlier this year it’s not lost on the trainer that she hasn’t seen him win in the flesh, including his Listed City Tattersall’s Club Cup win last start, even though there have been some good reasons for that.

“I wasn’t able to go with the Covid restrictions early on and he won his first two races without me there so I decided to stay away (last start),’’ Parker said.

“I’m just going to stay right away, he wins when I’m not there.”

While Parker might be being a little hard on herself, if it ain't broke! Torrens would likely earn a shot at a Sydney Cup campaign if he runs well or is successful in the $300,000 Visit Karaka 2022 The Beauford (2300m).

Parker said the five-year-old, who actually won his first four career starts under Ethan Ensby, has continued to improve this preparation as she’s got to know him better and worked out what was holding him back in his first few runs for her.

Torrens wins at Randwick on October 23

“We now know how to ride him, he needs cover and he likes a slower tempo in a race,’’ she said.

“He had a few issues we had to iron out with him. It took him a while to find form and wasn’t showing us much early but he had feet issues and now we know how to shoe him.

“When he’s off the bridle midrace he doesn’t let down as well. The other day when he was held up a bit he really let down.”

Since his Listed win at Randwick, Torrens has spent a few days in the paddock as Parker works to get one more run for the preparation before a summer break.

With Jenny Duggan lowering her riding weight to 51kg for the meeting he’ll carry 2kg less than when won last start so will get every chance to test his credentials for the autumn ahead.

“It’s a great race, good prizemoney and apprentices can claim,’’ she said.

“I’m definitely looking towards the autumn and I would love to have a crack at the Sydney Cup.

“I’d love to see if he can stay 3200m. He seems to be a strong horse and has a good heart and lung capacity, he always pulls up really well.

“It’ll depend on if he can continue to improve but now we know how to ride him and sorted out his issues he seems to have improved a fair bit.”

Torrens was an $8 chance with TAB on Thursday in the Beauford and Parker said her only concern heading into the race is the track condition, she’d prefer no worse than a soft 6.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's The Hunter meeting at Newcastle