Different Gravy’s hopes of contesting the Queensland Derby will be tested when the horse lines up at Flemington.
Henry Dwyer, the trainer, targeted the Derby in the northern states following Different Gravy’s success in a Listed event over 1800m at Flemington during Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Dwyer initially mapped out an alternative path to the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 30, which excluded the Trevor Clarke Handicap (2000m) at Flemington this Saturday.
The initial intention was for Different Gravy to take on the Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday, with a stopover in Sydney, but a lacklustre return at Caulfield over 1600m in March scuttled those ideas.
“Admittedly we knew he was underdone but I thought he would go better at Caulfield,” Dwyer said.
“I didn’t want to send him up to Sydney off the back of that as I needed him to do something, so Adelaide was an easier option.
“He improved somewhat but still wasn’t as good as he can be, so we’ve left him down here to give ourselves another chance before we pull the trigger and send him to Queensland.
“He needs to improve again, which I think he can and I think he will, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him this prep.”
After placing fourth in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville on April 11, Different Gravy claimed a trial victory at Caulfield Heath wearing blinkers, equipment he will don again on Saturday.
Dwyer noted that returning to Flemington with the step up to 2000m suits Different Gravy perfectly, requiring just a solid effort to secure travel northward.
“I want to see him back at Flemington, a nice big track,” Dwyer said.
“A wide barrier is not a bad thing for him as it will give him a bit of space and room to move, so that will give him every chance.
“He’s carrying 7-½ kilos more than Matt Cumani’s horse (Brave Danza) that was on level weights when he beat him at Flemington in the spring.
“It’s always a challenge going through benchmark races against progressive horses that have a lot less weight than you.
“He doesn’t necessarily have to win, and I’m not saying he can’t, but as long as he finished in the top three or four, I would be confident enough that that would be a good enough run to go to Queensland.”
Explore the Australian betting sites for top odds in the Trevor Clarke Handicap this Saturday at Flemington.