Three-year-old Lassitude is going to take an unusual path towards the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) on April 4, according to Godolphin racing manager Jason Walsh.

It is unlikely that Lassitude will join stable mate Sweynesse (pictured) in the Randwick Guineas this Saturday. Photo by Steve Hart.

Lassitude was nominated for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) this Saturday but looks set to bypass it in favour of a midweek run at Warwick Farm in a Benchmark 80 over a mile; the colt is set to jump from barrier seven with James McDonald.

The softer option is set to have Lassitude in perfect form for the 2015 Australian Derby next month.

It took Lassitude a little while to get going, not winning his maiden until his fifth start. After racing below 1500m, the colt stepped up to middle distance for the first time in the Cleaver Greene Maiden Plate (1800m) at Randwick on November 4, which he won by two and three-quarter lengths.

He then relished the increase to 1900 metres ten days later, winning a Benchmark 67 by nearly four and a half lengths. Following an 11 week spell, Lassitude resumed in a Benchmark 75 over 1400m at Randwick on February 18, which he finished just a head behind winner Happy Clapper in second place.

“He never really showed on the racecourse what he had been showing at home until he got out to those trips last time,” Walsh told Sky Racing.

“When he gets out to his (ideal) trip again he’ll be a very nice horse for Sheikh Mohammed.”

“Hopefully he will run a mile and a half. We think he is a (ATC Australian) Derby contender.

“To show that sort of form at 1400 (metres) and nearly get away with it was very pleasing.”

Despite being untested at black-type level of racing at this stage, Lassitude remains a $13 hopeful in the Australian Derby futures betting at Ladbrokes.com.au. Stable mate Sweynesse is the favourite at $6 and remains in contention for the Randwick Guineas this Saturday.