Lavalier can forge a G1 reputation in Adelaide

Lavalier is bred to be a top sprinter-miler, but the three-year-old could be on the verge of inking his name into the history books with a victory over 2,500m in Saturday’s G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville.

By Godolphin’s former champion two-year-old Microphone, Lavalier is out of the fabulous broodmare Accessories – already the dam of five individual Stakes winners of 13 Black-Type races.

Multiple G1 winners Helmet and Epaulette are his half-brothers, with Pericles, Pearls and Bullbars making up the star quintet.

Six months ago, head trainer James Cummings thought Lavalier was a possible VRC Derby and or ATC Derby contender.

Cummings sent the horse south for two runs at Sandown before the real Lavalier stood up with a fighting second behind Athanatos in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes over 2,000m at Morphettville last Saturday.

That run convinced his trainer to back up in the Derby, with hometown hero Jamie Melham retaining the mount.
While he’s drawn wide in barrier 15, Lavalier has indicated the distance would pose no problem and Cummings can’t have him any fitter.

At the Hawkesbury metropolitan meeting, Pisces (Kerrin McEvoy) and dual-acceptor Zeitung (Rachel King) have both draw well in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas over 1,400m, while Tamerlane (Nash Rawiller), Kin (Rachel King) and Renosu (Zac Lloyd) are engaged in the Listed Gold Rush at 1,100m.

Zebra Finch (McEvoy) will be having his second start in the 1,400m Clarendon Stakes for two-year-olds, where he’ll clash with Anthony and Sam Freedman’s Godolphin colt Wentworth Falls.

The improving Too Darn Hot youngster is on trial for an assault on the G1 J.J. Atkins Stakes over 1,600m at Eagle Farm next month.

“A really nice horse,” Sam Freedman remarked.
“At his first run (sixth) in a race he was a bit new and got back off a slow tempo.

“And he wasn’t able to make up a lot of ground last time out (third), but I loved how he attacked the line.
“He’s been a horse that we’ve had a nice opinion of for a little while.

“He was trialling up with Tentyris in the early days, they were doing a bit of work together.
“Hopefully he can get to a similar height.

“He’s a really progressive horse who is potentially going to Queensland, if he performs well on Saturday.”

Cummings scratched Snack Bar from Hawkesbury in preference for the Seven QTIS 3YO 1,300m at Eagle Farm, where he’ll carry Craig Williams’ 56.5kg from barrier four.

Stablemate Golden Mile has come up with the outside barrier (16) in the G2 Victory Stakes over 1,200m as he continues his comeback.

The former Caulfield Guineas winner trialled well at Randwick recently after a disappointing 10th in the G3 Victoria Handicap in Melbourne at his second start this preparation.

The in-form Angela Jones has the ride and the blinkers go back on Golden Mile.

Talented four-year-old Fleetwood returns to racing against Benchmark 90 company over 1,000m at Caulfield, with Ethan Brown in the saddle and drawn to jump from barrier eight.