Trainer Mick Kent will consider a trip to Queensland for the Winter Carnival following the debut win of Steel Run at Caulfield Heath.
Having his first start in the Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Plate (1600m) on Wednesday, Steel Run needed every metre of that trip to score.
Outsprinted approaching the hometurn, Steel Run ($9.50) under Ethan Brown, wore down the $1.85 favourite Inexorable to score by a half-neck with Mohnar ($6) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Kent said he had always held a healthy opinion of Steel Run, saying he is a stayer through-and-through.
Steel Run is a half-brother to Northern Barrage who progressed through the Galilee Series for staying three-year-olds last season, eventually running ninth in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.
Kent said he would look to starting Steel Run in a heat of the Mahogany Series over 2000m at Caulfield on May 4.
If Steel run performs well, a trip to Brisbane for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm may then come under consideration.
"There's a heap of 2000-metre three-year-old races through winter," Kent said.
"There's a really good program for three-year-olds at a trip at this time of year and even Queensland could be on the radar if he improves a bit.
"We'll go to a 2000-metre three-year-old race next start and see where we get to.
"There's so much good prize money here and nearly every Saturday there's a 2000-metre three-year-old race, right the way through winter, and I think he'll handle the wet no worries."
Kent entered Wednesday's race with high hopes for Steel Run and praised track staff for their presentation of Caulfield Heath.
"When I walked the track, it was much firmer than last time, so I was always expecting good speed," Kent said.
"He got caught out a bit when they sprinted and they dropped him, but he got home like a horse wanting 10 furlongs.
"I have to say kudos to Jason Kerr. He rose that straight by a metre which probably helped us late as he needed all the straight to get there."
FP | Silk | Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam |
Jockey Trainer |
SP
WT |
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1st |
6. STEEL RUN (AUS) 3yo G REAL STEEL (JPN) - NORTH SEA (AUS) |
ETHAN BROWN MICHAEL KENT |
$9.5
59kg |
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Dr R A Zito, Mrs P Zito, J F Cichello & Mrs R K Cichello | |||||||||||
|
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2nd |
4. INEXORABLE (AUS) 3yo G DANDINO (GB) - SAVABABE (NZ) |
DAMIAN LANE GRAHAME BEGG |
$1.8
59kg |
||||||||
Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Pty Ltd, R Bainbridge, I Brooker, G Cadd, Crow Family, J Cuttriss, Ms M Farrell, B Fellows, J Harris, T Harris, Ms M Keys, R Norton, D O'Brien, J Spalding, Vorcox, Sky Bloo, D W Spicer, A Cid & J Young | |||||||||||
3rd |
9. MOHNAR (AUS) 3yo F GRUNT (NZ) - YULONG METEOR (AUS) |
BEAU MERTENS GAVIN BEDGGOOD |
$6
57kg |
||||||||
Mrs K Flaherty, A E Jacobs, P J Wilson, M F Miller, H J Reynolds, R R Montagna, N Wilson, W E Reeves, C J Hudson, S W Radford, Mrs K J Radford, A V Miller, Ms H J Richmond, A P Sturesteps & C J Daly, Triple Helix (Mgr: M J White) & D C H Racing (Mgr: Ms D Munnee) | |||||||||||
|
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4th |
5. LINAS REEL (AUS) 3yo G HIGHLAND REEL (IRE) - CLOANTHY (AUS) |
LUKE NOLEN PETER G MOODY & KATHERINE COLEMAN |
$7
59kg |
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5th |
7. EXPEETEE (AUS) 3yo F BOULDER CITY (AUS) - REGAL ATTACK (NZ) |
JYE MCNEIL GERALD EGAN |
$11
57kg |
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6th |
3. SON OF GRACE (AUS) 5yo G COWBOY BLUE (AUS) - SILVER TRINKET (AUS) |
JASON MASKIELL ALLISON SHEEHAN |
$61
59.5kg |
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7th |
1. GALAN (AUS) 4yo G TORONADO (IRE) - WINAY WAYNA (AUS) |
CELINE GAUDRAY D & C FEEK |
$18
58kg |
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8th |
8. JUSTIFIED AT LAST (AUS) 3yo F JUSTIFY (USA) - AT LAST (IRE) |
BLAKE SHINN M & L KAVANAGH |
$16
57kg |
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