Trainer Clinton McDonald is taking a less conventional route with Conquer The World, stepping the gelding up from a maiden win to the Carbine Club Stakes, but he is undeterred and confident.
The Toronado three-year-old is set to transition from a substantial Cranbourne maiden success to the 1600-metre Group 3 race scheduled for Flemington on Derby Day.
The $500,000 Carbine Club Stakes is recognised for launching the careers of future champions, with notable past winners including Saintly and Aeliana, alongside many Group 1 winners. McDonald is optimistic that Conquer The World possesses the potential to achieve greatness.
“I think he’s a very good horse and potentially a very good horse,” the Cranbourne trainer commented.
“We’re just taking him along very steady, not asking too much of him, and I think this is a nice progression; fourth run into the Carbine Club at 1600m.
“He’s a big imposing individual and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
Conquer The World required three starts to break his maiden tag. However, his initial two races were promising, including a narrow second over 1325m at Geelong and a striking debut third over 1100m, where he charged home from the rear to finish less than 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner.
The impact of those earlier races was evident when he comfortably defeated his competitors by six lengths over 1400m at Cranbourne on October 16, with Ben Melham in the saddle.
“Since he had that second-up run, where Ben gave him one around the bum for the first time ever in his life, it really switched him on and we saw what he did at Cranbourne,” McDonald said, discussing the gelding’s recent surge in form.
Conquer The World races in similar ownership colours to stablemate Nikitria, who is also slated to compete at Flemington on Derby Day.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun will be given an opportunity to secure a start in the VRC Oaks (2500m) next Thursday by contesting the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
Nikitria has been unplaced in two starts over 1600m since her first-up victory over 1300m at Seymour on September 10, and McDonald has been anticipating an increase in her racing distance.
“We reckon she’s looking for 2000 and we’ve put blinkers on her just to sharpen her up a little bit,” McDonald stated.
“She’s been a victim of her barriers that filly, always having to go back because she hasn’t drawn a gate, but if she draws a barrier she’ll land in the first half-dozen and she’ll stay all day.”
Betting sites are already offering competitive racing odds for the Carbine Club Stakes.
