Training duo Emma-Lee and David Browne have some important planning ahead after their three-year-old talent Statuario posted an impressive win at Caulfield on Saturday.
The victory in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) has put Statuario on the radar for two Group 1 targets — the South Australian Derby (2500m) on May 3 at Morphettville or the Queensland Derby (2400m) four weeks later at Eagle Farm.
Statuario, who has now won three of his 10 career starts, has given the stable a welcome selection headache.
“We’ll have to weigh up now whether we give him a little freshen now and head up to Queensland or whether we take the four-week gap and head over to Adelaide for the Derby,” Browne said.
“The South Australian Derby looks a nice race for him, if he comes through this well.
“We just didn’t want to stretch him out this far in the spring. He was still a little bit weak, but he’s starting to furnish now, but I don’t know whether he’s that effective on wet and heavy ground, but until you try it, you don’t know.”
Sent out as the $1.75 favourite with John Allen in the saddle, Statuario proved too strong, pulling away to win by 2-¼ lengths over Politely Dun ($12), with Litzdeel ($18) finishing third, a further length behind.
The win followed a third-place finish behind Shanwah in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley, with the step up in distance no issue for the gelding.
“I thought he peaked on his run the other day,” Browne said.
“He had to do a lot of work from the back and if you set sail from a long way out, you will eventually get tired, but today he ended up in the right spot, he went to sleep, and he finished off well.
“He probably hit the front too early and started floating around. Hopefully he will continue to improve from there, but importantly he saw out the trip.
“Sometimes those horses that show a good turn of foot over a mile, they don’t always show it when they get out over further.
“Today he did what he needed to do.”