Quietly satisfied is what trainer Annabel Neashem seemed to be when former French galloper Don Diego De Vega won for the first time on Australian soil at Randwick.
Steered by Jason Collett, Don Deigo De Vega ($2.40 bookmakers favourite) would have been forgiven by Neasham for succumbing to the late challenge from rival The Englishman ($16), but the listed-placed galloper in France bought by Australian Bloodstock with a view to staying features found extra towards the line to win the James Squire Handicap (1800m) at benchmark 78 level.
After chasing gamely for second placing at his first run at Rosehill on June 29 on a Heavy 8 surface, Neasham was prepared for the short back-up to be telling in the finish.
“He was tough late,” Neasham said.
“I thought he might come to the end of his run (when challenged) but he is an exciting horse and will only get better as we step him out further.
“We’ll work him through his grades, but I think Australian Bloodstock might be looking at him as a nice Newcastle Cup horse.”
While that group three feature in September might be an option, the four-year-old by the two-time group one winning sire Lope De Vega is rated as a $15 chance across markets for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in October and at $34 with betting sites for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) – both in October.
“He needed a better surface than he got last time,” Jason Collett said.
“I was confident when we have a better track today (Soft 7) but he still needs it better than this.
“He is better than this.”
Neasham’s stable recorded a race-to-race double when Defining ($10) won the I Love 0% Cocktails Handicap (1400m) with Tyler Schiller in the saddle.
