Rosehill horseman David Payne has named the Victoria Derby 2012 as a possible end of season target for his progressive three-year-old Laser Flash after their eye-catching win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Breaking their maiden status at career start number four the Redoute’s Choice colt enjoyed the step up to 1900-metres when Glyn Schofield rode them to a quarter length win over the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite Jordan in the $350,000 Australian Turf Club Benchmark 68 Handicap (1900m).
After finding themselves settled at the back of the seven-horse field having missed the jump, Schofield pulled Laser Flash forward over the final 800-metres to increase the pace and turn the race into a genuine staying showdown.
“They were going so slowly I knew it was the big boys’ only chance,” Schofield said after the win.
So happy was Payne with their improvement from their first-up third at Goulburn over the mile on August 7 that he declared the youngster a chance of heading to Victoria for the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday November 3.
“He’s a racehorse. He’s my (Victoria) Derby horse. He just doesn’t know what he’s doing yet,” Payne said.
“He missed the start again today and his formlines are pretty good.
“Once the penny drops he’ll be a good horse.”
Options for Laser Flash leading up to the 2012 Victoria Derby include races such as the $200,000 Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Royal Randwick on September 22 or the $100,000 Dulcify Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill the Saturday before during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival according to Payne.
Payne has recent experience in the Victoria Derby having prepared Praecido for their third behind the ill-fated Lion Tamer in the classic back in 2010.
Nominations for the Victoria Derby will be taken by Racing Victoria on September 25, 2012.
Other Victoria Derby-bound youngsters include Murray Baker’s New Zealand galloper Dundeel who enjoyed a brilliant Australian debut to win at Wyong on August 22 with top Kiwi hoop James McDonald in the saddle, and Gai Waterhouse’s star colt Pierro.
Golden Slipper winning Lonhro three-year-old Pierro will be out to maintain their undefeated status when they shoot for a first-up victory in the $125,000 Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
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