By Glenn Davis
Victorian stayer Heavenly Thought produced a superb Queensland Derby trial with a powerful win in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Heavenly Thought, a $17 chance in early markets for next month’s Group 1 three-year-old Classic, outstayed his rivals to down Han Xin and early Queensland Derby favourite Dark Dream, who ran home strongly for third.
Jockey Damian Lane believed Heavenly Thought appreciated the step-up in distance to 2200-metres and feels the colt will be a real force in the Queensland Derby on June 9.
Heavenly Thought had to overcome a torrid flight from Melbourne after being a late arrival for the winter carnival on Thursday.
“It was hard work getting him here on the plane on Thursday,” said trainer Darren Weir’s foreman, Jarrod McLean.
“He was a real handful to load and being so close to the race we couldn’t use any sedation.
“He’s a cracking individual and being an entire makes it a very important few weeks coming up.”
Weir sent Heavenly Thought to Queensland after the son of dual Cox Plate winner, So You Think, landed his second career win at Swan Hill on May 16.
Meanwhile fellow Victorian Rising Red broke a run of outs to storm into Brisbane Cup calculations after claiming the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m).
Ridden by Corey Brown, Rising Red powered home to down Maurus with Sedanzer in third place.
Trainer Trent Busuttin was delighted after Rising Red landed his first win since November.
“He ran second in the New Zealand Derby but he did a suspensory and had to have 12 months off,” Busuttin said.
“He’ll go to the Brisbane Cup now but I don’t know what it will do to his weight as he was on the minimum.”
Brown said the penny was finally dropping with Rising Red who was coming off a last start third in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben two weeks ago.
“I got him going too early last start which brought about his downfall so today I just let him go through his gears,” Brown said
Earlier premier jockey Jeff Lloyd landed a century of city winners for the second successive season when Tyzone claimed the Benchmark 95 Handicap (1200m).
Tyzone overcame a wide passage to down Sword Of Justice by a short head with third placegetter, Echo Effect, a further neck away.
Former north Queenslander, Tyzone maintained his perfect record in two starts for Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds since transferring from Atherton trainer, Roy Chillemi.
Lloyd, who intends to retire at the end of the season, set a new record with 137 metropolitan wins last season.
Racing Queensland webnews May 26