An abundance of speed and natural ability got the career of Darley colt Safeguard off to a flying start at Flemington on Saturday.

And according to co-trainer Paul Snowden, the addition of some experience and durability will put him among the stable’s Golden Slipper candidates.

“At the moment he’s all speed and natural talent,” Snowden said.

“When he learns all a bit more he’ll be even better.”

Even without the addition of any further qualities, Safeguard is among the top bracket of early-season two-year-olds.

In his debut run he covered the 1000m of the Christmas Season Plate in a slick 57.1s, running his final 400m in a tick under 22 seconds and scoring by an unthreatened two lengths.

Safeguard ($2.80 fav) found the lead easily and held off the filly Mount Zero ($4.80) who finished 1-3/4 lengths clear of Midnight Rule ($6).

Snowden said Victoria’s premier juvenile race, the Blue Diamond Stakes, would probably come at the wrong time for Safeguard.

“There’s not much time before the Diamond comes around so we’ll probably be looking at Sydney,” he said.

“We have a group who are targeting the Blue Diamond and another that will come back a bit later for the Slipper.

“I’d say he’s an 80 per cent chance of being one of those.”

Safeguard is a son of the successful international sire Exceed And Excel from Preserve, a three-quarter sister to the talented Denman.