Lavalier down to contest the Victoria Derby Preview
Trainer James Cummings will learn more about Lavalier after the Godolphin colt takes a step up in trip on a path towards a potential Victoria Derby start.
Lavalier is down to contest the Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington on Sunday, a lead up race to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2.
A veteran of three race starts, Lavalier is showing signs of wanting to stretch out in distance, just as his half-brother Perricles did as a three-year-old.
Perricles won on debut at Newcastle over 1400m and at his third race start chased home Berkeley Square in the Group 2 The Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
A week later, at start number four, Perricles ran in the Victoria Derby, finishing midfield behind Manzoice.
As an autumn three-year-old Perricles won the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Sandown and ran second in the Group 2 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before another midfield finish when stepped up in trip in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
Nowadays, Perricles has been restricted to trips between 1300m and 1600m, although he is rising to 1800m again on Saturday in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, with the possibility of a start in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26 to come.
Lavalier also started his career at Newcastle, running third in a 1200m maiden before winning over 1300m at Kembla Grange.
Cummings then sent the colt to Melbourne where Lavalier made late ground with Jamie Kah in the saddle, finishing third to Evaporate at Moonee Valley on August 24.
That race was over 1500m, and Cummings said Lavalier was suggesting to the Godolphin team that he wants more ground.
“Lavalier is now emerging as a possible Victoria Derby horse,” Cummings said.
“I love the way he got through the line at The Valley, and I’ve loved the way he’s trained-on since.
“I gave him a little lung-burner jump-out at Flemington to keep him ticking over.
“The graduation to Flemington should suit him perfectly and it should be a good test for Lavalier, but he’s got to convert on his potential.”
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...
