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Cups targets for Derby King; Bermadez after hat-trick at Sandown; Guineas an option for Pike colt; Venue change possible for Canterbury meeting;
Cups targets for Derby King
Triple Derby winner Explosive Jack could have a big spring instore after his pleasing three-year-old season.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt won the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m), Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m), Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m), and placed in last Saturday's Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) behind fellow Kiwi-bred Kukeracha.
The son of Jakkalberry will now head for a well-deserved break before being prepared for Cups targets in the spring.
"Saturday was always going to be it, win, lose or draw. It (the Q22) was never going to be an option to do that. He'd done more than enough," Eustace told Racing.com.
"We've got a spring plan, which could obviously change, but he'll have three weeks off and then pre-train up there (in Queensland), then head down to Newcastle and spend a little bit of time there at the beach and then Warwick Farm.
"Ultimately, he'll go Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m), Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) and have a couple of prep runs leading into that."
Explosive Jack was purchased by Moody Racing out of Novara Park's 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000.
Bermadez after hat-trick at Sandown
The Mike Moroney-trained Bermadez will attempt to keep his unbeaten record intact when he runs for the third time at Sandown on Wednesday.
The four-year-old son of Tavistock has had his career halted through shoulder problems which Moroney hopes are now behind him.
"He's had a couple of problems, one as a younger horse and then on the opposite side after he won his only start," Moroney said.
"You just never know if they will return again, but we've put it down to immaturity and at this stage he's got a lot further than he has at other preparations."
Damien Oliver was aboard Bermadez when he was successful in a Geelong 1250m maiden in August last year where he led throughout to record a five-and-a-quarter length win.
After a break to recover from another shoulder complaint, Bermadez brought up win number 1000 for Jamie Kah when successful at Pakenham over 1400m on May 12.
Oliver gets back aboard on Wednesday and Moroney said Bermadez will take his chance from barrier 15 despite being nominated for a race at Flemington on Saturday.
"I doubt we'll get a run at Flemington, so we'll head to Sandown on Wednesday and it's a nice progression for him through the grades," Moroney said.
"He's still learning his trade. Last time he did a bit wrong when he got to the front but he was probably just a bit better than them.
"As he's going through his classes, he's going to keep learning a little bit more.
"He's got a tough draw again with the outside gate, but I think he's improved a bit from that first-up run and we've kept him at 1400 metres, but he seems a horse that will get a bit further down the track."
Bermadez was purchased out of Inglewood Stud's 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $280,000 by Paul Moroney.
Guineas an option for Pike colt
Tony Pike has been left scratching his head after Not An Option's subpar performance in the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
The colt beat just one runner home in the 1400m test and Pike was duly disappointed with the result.
"It was pretty disappointing, especially after his good fresh-up effort," he said. "We are scratching our heads a wee bit.
"He jumped a lot better on Saturday and got a lovely trip behind Ayrton, he (Nash Rawiller, jockey) said he was travelling very well coming into the corner, but just didn't let go at all.
"He seems to have pulled up 100 percent. We will probably barrier trial him in two weeks and then head to the Sunshine Coast Guineas (Gr.3, 1600m) on the third of July."
Venue change possible for Canterbury meeting
The weather bomb that has hit Canterbury in the past three days has resulted in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the Canterbury Jockey Club considering all options for the Riccarton Park Meeting scheduled for Friday.
Discussions are being held with the Ashburton Racing Club about possibly holding the meeting at Ashburton Racecourse.
An inspection will be made tomorrow (Wednesday) to determine the best venue for the meeting on Friday.
