Patient Howley yet to Circle target

[Wandering Eyes]

Liam Howley is hoping that his patience with classy three-year-old Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor) will be rewarded as he approaches the business end of his autumn campaign.

“We looked after him in the spring, we put him away early, he wasn’t physically ready for it, but he’s come back this time; he’s bigger and stronger and certainly more mature,” Howley said.

Virtuous Circle still performed well during the spring, finishing second in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase, while he wasn’t beaten far in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at his most recent start.

The son of Almanzor will have his third run of his current preparation this weekend in either the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes at The Valley or in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney.

“It was a super run,” Howley said of his Vase run.

“I guess his run in the Guineas last start as well, both really suggest that he’s a pretty good horse. I’ve always held him in really high regard and back out to the 2000m, he’s certainly ready for it.”

The Kyneton-based trainer took Virtuous Circle for a gallop at The Valley on Tuesday morning, with a decision still to be made as to what race he’ll contest on Saturday.

“We’re keeping all options on the table for the moment,” Howley said.

“It was a nice piece of work, just brought him here again for a look around, he knows the place well, performed well here.

“We always had in the back of our mind that maybe the Rosehill Guineas might be the preferred option but having had a look at the noms, we just thought that the opportunity to bring him here was too good to pass up.”

Howley added that should Virtuous Circle perform up to expectations this weekend, he will then head towards a race like the Australian Derby.

Sportsbet has Virtuous Circle at $6.50 for the Alister Clark Stakes, $8 for the Rosehill Guineas and $15 for the Australian Derby.

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