Trainer Matt Cumani believes Deal Done Fast possesses the talent to secure a Stakes victory, though the Ballarat-based handler is primarily focused on achieving a first win with the colt.
These objectives could be realised at Flemington this Saturday during the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m), assuming Deal Done Fast refines his starting habits from the gates.
Still seeking his initial success after seven outings, Deal Done Fast has formed a frustrating tendency to begin sluggishly, prompting Cumani and his staff to undertake corrective exercises with the colt following his latest appearance in the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 4.
During the autumn campaign, Deal Done Fast placed third in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
“He threw his race away right at the beginning last time and I’m still trying to work out exactly what he did, but it’s starting to look like a pattern now,” Cumani said.
“I gave him a pass mark for the first two runs of the prep.
“In his first race, it was a short distance, and he got squeezed as he came out of the barriers, in his second race he wasn’t concentrating and for him to come out slowly for the third race of his prep, it was a worrying pattern.
“We’ve done a bit of barrier work, and he seems to be breaking well enough, and he has no issues in the gates but is just a bit slow into stride.
“I’m hoping over 2800 metres at Flemington, that shouldn’t be a problem and if he happens to do it again, he’ll have plenty of time to make up the ground.”
Cumani claimed the St Leger with Dunwoody in 2023 at Sandown across 3000m, as the event was rescheduled four days after the tragic race fall of Dean Holland at Donald on the eve of Anzac Day.
“When we won it, it was with a horse that probably had no rights to win a Stakes race, but having said that it was 3000 metres and now it’s back to 2800 metres,” Cumani said.
“It’s a tougher race this year than when we won it.”
To eliminate distractions, Cumani opted against nominating Deal Done Fast for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in a fortnight.
Should ambitions extend to further Derby targets, the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm next month remains a possibility.
“There is another Derby left if we want to go down that path, but I just want to see him win a race,” Cumani said.
“He’s been an unlucky maiden.
“He should have won his first race, he was beaten a bob of the head, so he’s still got that tag, and it would be nice to get that sorted first.
“If he could do it in the St Leger, that would be fantastic and if not, we might look at other options before we put him away for a break.”
Cumani will also start Te Taniwha in the Saturday feature.
“He’s been crying out for ground, and this has been a bit of a long-range plan for him,” Cumani said.
“We would have liked to have seen him do a bit more in his last race, but it’s got such a long tail this race that its always worthwhile having a horse in it for the prize money and it gives everyone a nice day at Flemington.”
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