Cliff Brown’s post-race emotions nearly saw Scintillante headed home to Melbourne, but a closer review has convinced the trainer to keep the colt in Adelaide for Saturday’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m).

Immediately after Scintillante’s below-par run in the Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) last weekend, Brown was set on aborting the Derby mission. But after analysing the replay and sectional data, he decided to press on.

“It’s rare to see a horse run so poorly on face value and still justify backing up a week later, but I think there were valid excuses,” Brown said.

Scintillante arrived in Adelaide following a strong third in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas and started a well-backed runner in the Chairman’s Stakes. But things didn’t go to plan, and he finished third-last, over seven lengths behind Athanatos.

Brown pointed to a lack of clear running and a slowly run race as key factors. “He ran the fourth quickest final 600, 400 and 200 metres, which tells me he didn’t get his chance,” he said.

With Blake Shinn staying in Melbourne to ride at Caulfield, Billy Egan takes the reins on Saturday. Egan won last year’s South Australian Derby aboard Dunkel, while Brown has trained three winners of the race — Cheviot, Markham and Blue Murder.

“He’s come through last week really well,” Brown said. “He’s eaten up, had a quiet week, his blood profile is good. Hopefully Billy can have him closer in the run and give him a chance to show his best.”