![STEP UP: Lord Tony and Mikayla Weir land the money at Moree. They will contest the Highway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Bradley Photographers STEP UP: Lord Tony and Mikayla Weir land the money at Moree. They will contest the Highway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Bradley Photographers](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/0b21e96f-bf26-493b-a9c5-734c6dbb356a.jpg/r0_0_802_794_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Tamworth trainer Troy O'Neile rides his own work, is built like an NRL forward, competed in US rodeos and hasn't raced in Sydney in well over a year.
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That will change at Randwick on Saturday when outsider Lord Tony ($17 Sportsbet) contests the $75,000 Highway Handicap (1000m).
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The toughest of bush horsemen is upbeat about the horse's chances, given his consistent form (three wins and five minor placings from 14 starts), a handy draw (eight) and a significant weight drop (he will be ridden by apprentice Mikayla Weir)
Tamworth trainer Melanie O'Gorman will contest the Highway with three-year-old gelding I'm On Break.
With COVID restrictions easing, nominations have been booming at all racing levels.
The Highway Handicap has a capacity 16 runners, with five emergencies.
On the horizon is regional racing's richest and greatest occasion, The Kosciuszko, which will be contested at October's spring carnival.
O'Neile, a multiple country cups winner, is under no illusions given the hot field.
But vitally, Lord Tony has a soft draw and is a three-race winner in peak form, while several dangers are drawn precariously. Wet conditions are again likely.
O'Neile said a bonus was a 3kg weight relief from the allotted 58kg because Weir would ride the horse. Lord Tony has lumped 61kg and 58kg recently.
He said: "We can lead or sit on pace. [The horse] handles all conditions.
"[He is] as good as I can get him and [I] reckon you've got to have a crack at that level of prizemoney while they're eligible.
"The little girl [Weir] has the understanding with him, rode [him] a gem when he won. [And] he only got beaten a neck by an open-company horse, and we're back to a country Class 3 [on Saturday]."
The four-year-old Nicconi gelding was formerly trained by Mitch Newman and Stephen Jones.