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.”
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