Lindsay Park is hoping the Mark Zahra and So Si Bon combination will prove a winning one at The Valley.

So Si Bon runs in the Travis Harrison Cup (1600m) on Saturday with Zahra having the ride on the gelding for the first time in three runs.

The ride on So Si Bon will be Zahra’s first since he rode at the Queensland Oaks meeting at Eagle Farm in June before heading overseas to celebrate his 40th birthday.

The Ben and J D Hayes-trained So Si Bon has been underperforming since Zahra rode the gelding into second place in the VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) at Caulfield in April.

Ben Hayes explained So Si Bon had been jumping too well from awkward draws and instead of being able to take a sit, had been racing up on the speed.

That was evident in the gelding’s last start at Flemington when So Si Bon finished a fading 11th in the Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m).

Of So Si Bon’s eight wins from 78 starts, Zahra has been aboard in four of the gelding’s victories.

“In his last couple of starts he’s drawn wide, and he’s been flying the start,” Hayes said.

“We’ve been wanting to take a sit with him but when you jump a length-and-a-half clear it’s hard to do.

“We’ve drawn barrier four, Mark Zahra has a very good record on him and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

Lindsay Park will also start Biometric in Saturday’s contest.

Biometric has been a cause of frustration for Lindsay Park since his arrival in Australia from the UK at the end of 2019.

In 22 starts for the stable, Biometric has won two races, the most recent at Flemington over 1420m on June 18, before his last start seventh at Caulfield over 1400m on July 9.

“He was a victim of the barrier last start,” Hayes said.

“He drew one which is not an ideal draw for him. He got too far back and made steady ground to the line, and it was a good run.

“Both of them on their day can go close. I’m happy with how they have been training, now they just need some luck.”