Sights set on Spring Carnival with impressive Kaleo

Saturday’s maiden win at Caulfield has put Kaleo on a potential path to the spring features, with Ciaron Maher’s team eyeing off targets like the Caulfield Guineas after the colt’s strong performance.

The two-year-old, trained by Maher for Southern Cross Syndications, overcame a slow start in the 1400m Remembering Margaret McDonald Handicap to record his first victory from just two outings, having placed fourth in the Mornington Sires last time.

Jack Turnbull, Maher’s assistant, confirmed the team is excited by Kaleo’s progress and considering both short-term and long-range goals.

“He’s got the makings of a nice colt who should get over a little but further,” Turnbull said.

“You’d love to be thinking about spring with a colt of this calibre now. Whether we go one more and keep him at 1400 – there’s an option on the 17th of May at Flemington – but if not we can wait and the main thing is we got today out of the way.”

Kaleo was a $150,000 purchase at the Inglis Classic Sale and has now delivered on early promise with Southern Cross Thoroughbreds, who also celebrated a major jumps double with Duke Of Bedford at the Warrnambool Carnival.

Rider Ethan Brown said Kaleo still has more to learn but has the ability to progress.

The $3 shot powered home late to defeat $2.70 betting sites favourite Prestige Ole by nearly two lengths, with Kakkoii third.

“He got away with it today in a small field, but we do need to get on top of it (slow start) because he is a nice horse and I can see him running in better races – he’s going to furnish into a lovely three-year-old,” Brown said.

“It worked out well; the field came back to us, we made up ground without using up too much petrol and we were in striking distance at the right time.

“What I liked was when I asked for him, he was right there for me, so it was a good sign going forward.”