Stakes-place Pukekohe 3-year-old Astute And Agile booked a spring campaign in Melbourne when splashing his way to victory at New Plymouth yesterday.
Trainer Rudy Liefting confirmed the trip after the St Reims colt had run down race pacemaker Torrado late to score a convincing win in the rating 85 1800m.
Liefting has mapped out a plan that will see Astute And Agile line up next in the rating 75 2000m at Matamata on October 12 before heading to Melbourne to tackle the Geelong Classic for 3-year-olds at Geelong on October 23.
"If he can run in the first three in that then it will be straight on into the Victoria Derby," Liefting said. "The stake for the VRC Derby this year is $A1.1 million. "The money is too big not to think about."
Astute And Agile show ability in his first season, winning on debut and earning black type later when third in the listed Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Matamata.
The colt was bred and is raced by Wellington businessman Derek Williamson and was having his first outing past 1400m yesterday.
"I liked the horse from day one and it looks like he can stay," Liefting said. Liefting left New Plymouth racecourse yesterday with a 100 per cent record. His only other runner, Move Faster, did best in a battling finish to win the Powerworx Open narrowly from Old Drumble, with topweight Spiro close up third.
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