It’s been more than three years since Subiaso has raced over a staying trip at Flemington.
The last time the son of Testa Rossa raced over a distance at the track he finished ninth in the 2012 Victoria Derby won by Fiveandahalfstar.
Wind the clock forward to New Year’s Day 2016 and Subiaso will tackle the Listed Bagot Handicap over 2800 metres.
Circumstances beyond trainer Robbie Laing’s control have prevented Subiaso showing his staying ability, until now.
“We gelded him and he had symptoms of foundering,” Laing said.
“He had shocking hoof problems for a long time and this time in is the best we’ve had for a long time.”
Subiaso showed he was back near his best when third behind Spectacular Vision over 2400m at Sandown on December 23 and Laing doesn’t see the rise to 2800m on Friday as a concern.
Laing has opted for a gear change on the gelding replacing the blinkers with a set of pacifiers and has Craig Newitt in the saddle.
“I was only watching him the other night on ‘From The Vault’ and they had Fiveandahalfstar winning the Derby,” Laing said.
“He was breathing fumes down his back cornering in the Derby and hopefully he’s back to something like that.
“He’s been racing a bit too fierce.
“From barrier two if he can lob fifth or sixth and relax and then unleash like he did last week, he can put himself in it.”
The old firm of Laing and Kevin Forrester reunite in the metropolitan area with Dezannam in the Red Tempo Handicap.
The pair teamed to win the 2004 Adelaide Cup with Pantani before Forrester headed interstate.
For the past month Forrester has been riding work at Cranbourne for Laing.
Depending on the outcome, Dezannam could head north to the Gold Coast to run in the Magic Millions Maiden Plate on Saturday week.
“He was the best of my two-year-olds two years ago until he fractured his stifle,” Laing said.
“He had the wood on Boomwaa and Goldconda but everything went wrong for him.
“If he runs a nice race on Friday we’ll fly him up if we can get a flight up to the Gold Coast.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
