Gelagotis, who saddles up Illustrious Lad in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint at the Dubai World Cup meeting early Sunday (AEDT), also has a domestic Group One to look forward to on his return from the Middle East.
Levendi’s late surge to the line saw the Pierro three-year-old shorten from $15 to $11 on the TAB market for next Saturday’s $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
Ridden smartly by Mark Zahra, Levendi scored by a short head after looming late as the $4 favourite.
Godolphin’s Astoria ($10) was second and New Zealand raider Weather With You ($21) was a half neck back in third after setting the tempo.
Levendi now tackles a seven-day back-up for the first time in what will be his eighth start of a preparation that also includes unplaced runs in the Group one Caulfield and Australian Guineas.
Zahra was confident Levendi could challenge Derby favourite Ace High, who was a $5 chance on Saturday.
“He switched off in the run and he relaxes really well. If he wasn’t going to get the trip I think he would have run second but he toughed it out really well,” Zahra said.
“He didn’t make it easy for me. Halfway up the straight I thought he was complacent and happy running second but I got stuck into him and the Gelagotis boys had him nice and fit. He was strong over the line.”
Astoria’s Derby odds trimmed from $26 to $15 while Weather With You came in from $51 to $26 after improving in his first Sydney outing at a Warwick Farm midweek meeting.
“It was a good run and a one week back up to the Derby will do him good,” said jockey Jason Collett.
Credit: AAP