A pleasing hitout at Flemington Racecourse on Friday morning has trainer Danny O’Brien considering a shot at the Victoria Derby 2013 back at the track this Melbourne Cup Carnival for the up-and-coming Gravitational.
The Astronomer Royal colt did lots right today according to O’Brien who was giving the youngster their first serious jumpout since their latest run back in March.
“He’s a nice horse, that was his first serious bit of work this time in, I’m sure there’s a good race in him,” O’Brien said, as reported by racenet.com.au, after watching them work over the 800m with Damien Browne in the saddle.
Still a maiden Gravitational had three starts in their opening campaign in Melbourne.
Second-up they were put in the deep end at Flemington doing well to keep in touch with their rivals as a $101 roughie finishing four lengths away sixth to the Bjorn Baker-trained filly Twilight Royale in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
From there they went to Caulfield a fortnight later and showed promise of handling more distance.
Stepped up to the mile for a juvenile handicap they finished under two lengths away third to Peter Snowden’s Exceed And Excel colt San Diego before going out for a spell.
During their time away from the track Gravitational has matured both physically and mentally displaying the makings of a nice three-year-old according to O’Brien.
“He did really well in his spell, really well,” he said.
“He will have another jumpout in two weeks’ time and then we can look for a race for him.”
He’s hoping the horse can continue to rise through the ranks and stretch out to the mile and a half and beyond.
If they do that then one of the spring’s classic races, the $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 2, could become a lucrative grand final option.
“I am hoping that he can get to a race like the VRC Derby in the spring,” O’Brien said.
2013 Victoria Derby nominations are due to be taken on September 24, with Gravitational sure to be on the list of early entries.
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