Following Cannae’s breakthrough win at Caulfield Heath, trainer Danny O’Brien welcomes possible inquiries from Hong Kong buyers.

Nonetheless, the three-year-old’s handler contemplates cross-border Derby targets after the gelding’s second-out success in the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1500m) on Wednesday.

O’Brien forked out $20,000 for the son of Maurice at the Adelaide Magic Millions yearling auction, aiming to train and race the gelding personally.

In conjunction with wife Nina, O’Brien described Cannae as a tardy foal and diminutive when selected, prior to his three-year-old phase.

“I really liked him at the sales, and he was in the last 20 lots and was one of those ones that fell through the cracks, so I thought I’d give this one a crack myself,” O’Brien said.

“I’ll speck some, keep some to trade, and some to race.”

O’Brien indicated no foreign propositions for Cannae so far, yet the midweek result might prompt them.

“He was never going to be a horse that showed up in 800-metre trials,” O’Brien said.

“He was always going to be one that had to develop into being this type of racehorse.

There is a decent enough market for these sorts of horses and Hong Kong loves these sorts of horses, three-year-old’s that are still lightly raced with the potential of getting to the Derby.”

Ridden by Damian Lane at $2.80 favourite status, Cannae prevailed by a short neck against Peeaitchdee ($3), with Somethingintheair ($13) one length adrift in third.

Cannae began his career at Sandown last month from a rearward position, and O’Brien highlights significant strides made by the gelding.

“He’s building a foundation to being a pretty decent horse,” O’Brien said.

“He’s been picking up some pretty decent horses in his gallops. He has got that ability to quicken up and hit the line.

“His pedigree says, being by Maurice, he takes that leap at least to 2000 metres, so we’ve got plenty of options for at least the rest of his three-year-old year.

“We entered him last week for the Australian Derby, but that’s probably a bit soon and everything would have to fall into place, but there is also the South Australian Derby and Queensland Derby after that.”

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