A tough front-running win by Order Of The Sun at Randwick had Gai Waterhouse outlining plans for one of the major races on the calendar.
Waterhouse believes the $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) on April 12 is within the scope of the colt who she says reminds her of Nothin’ Leica Dane, winner of the 1995 Victoria Derby.
Starting for the first time since September, Order Of The Sun ($8.50) held off $2.40 favourite Agadir by a half length in Saturday’s 1600m benchmark 74 for three-year-olds.
“Nothin’ Leica Dane loved a fight too. That carries horses a long way,” Waterhouse said.
“He’ll be better when he gets over further but this was a lovely starting point for him.”
She said Order Of The Sun would follow a traditional path to the Derby through the autumn.
Jockey Tommy Berry said the colt’s performance was enhanced by the fact Agadir was with him all the way.
“It’s not easy to win first-up over the mile and he was being hounded at the 600 metres,” Berry said.
“He’s one of those horses whose best quality is toughness and the further he goes the more that quality will come to fore.”
Hot Albert ($8) suffered a bleeding attack during the race and went back through the field from a prominent position without incident.
Order Of The Sun’s win came after his two-year-old stablemate Law staked his claim for the Golden Slipper with victory in the two-year-old race on the program.
Waterhouse had a third winner from the first five races with another front runner, Almighty Charge ($3.70), in the 1400m benchmark 85 in which his more-fancied stablemate and favourite Our Desert Warrior ($2.70) weakened to finish fifth after tracking the leader.
