Gates sets sights on Victoria Derby 2023
Peter Moody and syndicator Wylie Dalziel put their necks on the line when they purchased Gates at a Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
The son of Frankel, a close relation to stayer Mirage Dancer that third in the 2019 Caulfield Cup, and won The Metropolitan in Sydney, was a $950,000 purchase by the pair in 2022.
Gates had his third start on Wednesday when taking out the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Plate (1500m) to show his trainer he may be a stayer with potential.
Ridden by Luke Nolen , Gates ($8) registered a three-quarter length first-up win from Binotto ($4.40) with Life Sentence ($9) a head away third.
Gates still has a long way to go to recoup his purchase price, and while he is still a colt, Moody suggested his future may be as a gelding.
Moody said both he and Dalziel had put their own ‘manhood’ on the line if they did not secure a result with Gates.
While Wednesday’s victory was at 1500m and first-up, Moody said the colt has staying potential.
“He’s always indicated that he’s going to be a nice staying horse,” Moody said.
“He hasn’t got a lot of brilliance, but he can maintain a good gallop.
“He’s the type of horse that you will probably see in a 2000-metre next time and ridden the same way.
“He will stay all day and I think he will have a bit of quality coming through as a stayer.”
Moody said the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on October 21 could potentially be the next outing for Gates who could progress to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington two weeks later.
Gates had two starts as a two-year-old over 1300m and 1400m in May before being spelled.
“He’s furnished and grown up a bit, but we didn’t give him a long time away because he is such a big horse, and we were mindful of that while keeping him an entire,” Moody said.
“He’s a nice progressive horse that can build on that and he could go to the Caulfield Classic in a months’ time at 2000 metres and see if we can build off it again, to something like the Derby.
“I’ve got the timing, but that’s the type of horse he is, whether it’s this time or in the autumn.
“But we can get some more work into him, so I’m not ruling it out.”
More Racing News
Selino prepares for Brisbane Cup title defence
Finding suitable races for a dour stayer at this time of year is a challenge for even Australia’s most accomplished horsemen, just ask Chris Waller. Waller has his sights set on Selino defending his Brisbane Cup crown but says working out how to get him there has required a bit of novel...
Antino up for G1 Kingsford Smith Cup challenge
Tony Gollan knows this Saturday’s Kingsford Smith Cup will be the toughest test of Antino’s career, but he is confident the five-year-old can be a factor in the $1 million event. Queensland’s leading trainer has described the 1300-metre event, one of two Group 1 races at Eagle Farm this Saturday, as the race...
The Black Cloud descends on Randwick rivals
Having begun the day questioning how well The Black Cloud had come back this campaign, Joe Pride ended it by labelling her a stakes-class horse in the making. The Proven Thoroughbreds filly took her record to three wins from four starts with a rousing first-up victory in Saturday’s Taylor Construction Handicap (1000m)...
Queensland tilt among the options for Neasham 2YO
A belated shot at the Brisbane winter carnival is among the options for lightly raced filly Aemelius after she upstaged a handy field of two-year-olds to win the opening race at Randwick. Having just her second start, the Annabel Neasham-trained youngster, who started at $12 with betting sites, went back to last...
Sargent hoping Casual Connection can earn a Brisbane Cup berth
John Sargent is crossing his fingers that Casual Connection’s narrow victory at Randwick will give him a sufficient ratings boost to squeeze into the field for the Brisbane Cup. A renowned trainer of stayers, Sargent saddled up two runners in the two-mile race last year, Essential Sky who finished fifth and Outlandos ninth, and...
Scarlet Oak wins Roses to earn G1 Queensland Oaks favouritism
Chris Waller has labelled Scarlet Oak a “rising star” after the lightly raced filly staked her Group One Queensland Oaks claims with a classy win over stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller in the Doomben Roses. The filly has come a long way in a short time, making a winning debut in New Zealand in...
Le Ferrari leads home Lindsay Park quinella at Sandown
A return to Sandown has paid a dividend for Lindsay Park galloper Le Ferrari who led home a one-two finish for Ben, Will and J D Hayes. Le Ferrari over-ran stablemate Rheinberg to claim the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ridden by Ben Allen, Le Ferrari ($10) overhauled Rheinberg ($7.50) in the final...
Bois D’Argent upsets rivals in G1 Doomben Cup
Trainer Annabel Neasham has landed a second victory in the Doomben Cup with a horse she said was well over the odds. Imported galloper Bois D’Argent held off a late bid from New Endeavour to follow the win of Zaaki for Neasham in 2021 in the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest. Ridden by Blake...
Timely Sandown double for Dan O’Sullivan
The Ballarat stable of Dan O’Sullivan is enjoying a purple patch of form in the metropolitan area which has included a race-to-race double at Sandown. O’Sullivan welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure Way Up High in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Handicap (2400m) before Matriarch Rose took out the Stow Solutions Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. The...
Trip test next for Lady In Pink
A return to Sandown has brought out the best in the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Lady In Pink who will now be stepped up in trip for a race at Flemington. Lady In Pink took out the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1600m) on Saturday and will head to Flemington for a 2000m...