A Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) tilt remains on the table for Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) winner Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill) despite his failure to see out the staying journey in the Sydney classic.
The three-year-old posted a strong win in Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate at Doomben, a traditional lead-up to the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in two weeks.
However, connections have a decision to make after trainer Chris Waller admitted the son of Churchill didn’t appear to see out the classic journey when finishing among the tailenders in the Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) last month.
“He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne then just didn’t quite stay the 2400 in the Derby,” Waller said.
“We’ve got a little bit of concern about the 2400.
“I think the Churchills are more speedier horses so that’s the challenge we’ve got to deal with in the next two weeks.”
Imperialist snuck under the guard of punters at Doomben, sent out a $61 chance after he finished worse than midfield in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at his previous start.
But a gear readjustment and a positive ride from Tommy Berry turned the horse’s form around.
“We tried blinkers (in the Guineas) and it just didn’t work. He missed the start,” Waller said.
“So we took them off and suggested to Tommy we ride him a bit closer. He had a nice soft time up in front and it just sparked a bit of interest.”
Berry concurred that Imperialist switched on ridden handier at Doomben then declared that if anybody could put some stamina into the horse’s constitution, it was Waller.
“If he says he will get him to stay again, he will get him to stay,” Berry said.
“He is the best staying trainer that’s going around.”
Imperialist firmed from $101 into $15 for the Queensland Derby with Rough Habit Plate third placegetter King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) maintaining favouritism at $6.