It’s been 16 years since a Queensland trained three-year-old made a successful raid on the Group 3 $200,000 Furphy San Domenico Stakes (1100m) but trainer Tony Gollan is hoping to change that with his unbeaten colt Nettuno at Rosehill on Saturday.
Gollan, Brisbane's leading trainer, selected the San Domenico to kick off the youngster's spring knowing it is always a stern test and a good pointer to what lies ahead.
The star filly Gold Edition is the last from north of the border to win the San Domenico, she did that in 2006, on the way to contesting the Golden Rose and later a Group 1 win in what is now the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Both races could be in Nettuno's sights if his early Sydney campaign goes to plan.
"We'll know a lot more after the weekend, Saturday is the race that shapes where he's at a little bit and where we go with him,'' Gollan said.
"There is a myriad of options, it just depends on the horse and how he measures up to stronger grade.
"He has good form around him from the races that he's won. I don't think you saw the best of him at the Gold Coast either. He is a horse I have a good opinion of."
Nettuno, a $500,000 yearling, graduated from a Sunshine Coast maiden win on debut to defeat the likes of Midnight In Tokyo and subsequent Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter in the Group 3 Ken Russell on the Gold Coast in May.
Gollan said at this stage the plan is to head to the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 10 before a decision on the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) is made.
"It depends on how well he is executing his races, so far in his limited racing career he is still been doing a few things wrong,'' he said.
"He is nowhere near the finished product yet, he's very much an improving three-year-old so there's a lot of upside to him.
"You'll see a better version of him on Saturday than what you've seen so far."
Hugh Bowman has been secured to ride Nettuno, who opened $6.50 with TAB on Wednesday, and with a middle gate Gollan is hoping to see the colt tracking, not making, the speed.
That tactic was put into practice in his lead up barrier trial though Gollan points out the 840m heat at Doomben on August 2 didn't exactly go to plan despite his charge proving too classy.
"He was a bit fresh in the trial. They went along very slow, he was happy to be where he was then all of a sudden they backed the speed down,'' he said.
"He's a competitive and aggressive colt and he went a bit fierce but he has had a jump out since where he was a whole lot better. He's improved off that and in his work on Tuesday he was nice and relaxed behind a horse.
"This race is normally run quite up tempo and we're keen to see the horse relax a bit in his races.
"He has led in each of his races, he has got good high cruising speed. I'd love to see him just behind a good gallop and he hasn't been able to do that so far.
"It's always a very strong race and a good indicator for the three-year-old sprint races in the spring."
Gollan has sent his talented mare Isotope and stablemate The Move to Melbourne to commence their spring campaigns but hasn't ruled out switching back to Sydney for any of his carnival hopes should it be needed.
"Sydney gets quite strong towards the Everest and these horses are probably a rung below them but there's no reason why you couldn't see them back in Sydney at some stage,'' he said.
