Derby rehearsal for Inverell

[Wandering Eyes]

The connections of Inverell (NZ) (Shocking) will get a better gauge as to where their gelding sits in Derby calculations after he contests the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The son of Shocking, who is raced by OTI Racing, won impressively on debut at Sale for trainer Clayton Douglas before finishing ninth second-up in the Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington last month.

“He won very well at Sale. He got knocked over the fence at Flemington so we came out of that race not really knowing where we were,” OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson told SENTrack.

“When the Spring Champion Stakes came up a little bit light on entries we thought this is a way we are going to find out if he is a Derby horse or not. We have taken the opportunity.

“He worked well earlier in the week, probably better than going into Sale so it gives us some confidence that he is going to run well.”

Inverell will be jumps jockey turned trainer Clayton Douglas’ first Group One runner, although because of travel restrictions the Victoria horseman won’t be on track in Sydney this weekend.

“When we threw the nomination in for the Spring Champion, the horse was in the market and the ownership group was happy to roll the dice, so we’ll see how he fronts up third-up at the 2000 metres,” Douglas said.

“It is a bit of an ask and it’s throwing him into the deep end, but it’s worth the shot and it will probably be good experience for the autumn giving him a trip away.”

Bred by Haunui Bloodstock, in conjunction with Melbourne-based Dennis and Maureen Nicol, Inverell was initially offered at last year’s South Island Sale but failed to meet his $20,000 reserve.

Connections elected to take the promising stayer to the next stage of his development, sending him to Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole, for whom he had two trials including a runner-up finish at Avondale over 1050m, before bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo secured the prospect for OTI Racing.

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