Three-year-old Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) could follow in the footsteps of stablemate Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) and target the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) after he contests the Gr.2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Long Leaf won the Ellerslie million dollar feature in January, two starts after a Sandown Guineas placing and Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the rich sales-restricted race on January 25 was an option for Conqueror.
A $1 million yearling from the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock draft of Curraghmore, Conqueror is by Fastnet Rock out of Group One winner Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) and has been competitive in feature races against his own age this spring in Melbourne. Long Leaf was purchased out of Curraghmore’s consignment the previous year.
After a third in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley three starts ago, Conqueror was sixth in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas and fourth in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes.
Saturday’s race will be the seventh of his preparation which began with a big-margin victory in a Pakenham maiden in July.
“We’re really happy with him. He keeps performing well,” Dabernig said.
“I thought his run in the Guineas was good and his run in the Carbine Club was solid.
“He’s certainly well into his preparation but he’s got an iron constitution and he’s coping with it all very well.
“I would expect him to be competitive for sure.”
Dabernig said the New Zealand race was definitely on the agenda.
“He’s different to Long Leaf but not dissimilar in that Long Leaf had a good constitution like this horse,” Dabernig said.
“I think he’s the sort of colt that if he runs well on Saturday could be capable of doing something like that.”
