Patinack Farm trainer John Thompson has big spring plans for Destruction if the talented colt lives up to his promise in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Doomben on Monday.
The son of leading sire Fastnet Rock was given a solid grounding, winning two of three barrier trials before an impressive debut win over the Gai Waterhouse-trained Kabayan in a 1200m race for two-year-olds at Rosehill last month.
Kabayan franked the form when he held off all but star Queensland juvenile Sizzling in Saturday’s Group One TJ Smith at Eagle Farm.
“They were spruiking Kabayan as being very good before they met last time and we beat him convincingly at Rosehill,” Thompson said.
Patinack Farm boss Nathan Tinkler bought Destruction as a yearling in New Zealand but a lack of maturity delayed his racetrack career.
Destruction is a son of Storm Signal, an eight-time winner for trainer Peter Moody during her 27-start career.
Her biggest win was the Group Three Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in August 2007.
“After we bought him in New Zealand we put him at the end of our two-year-olds,” Thompson said.
“He needed time to mature and the Fastnet Rocks generally aren’t early two-year-olds.”
Thompson said no thought was given to aiming Destruction for the major two-year-old features during the Brisbane winter carnival.
“He’s a 1200-metre horse at this stage so there was no point looking at the bigger races up there this year,” he said.
“Maybe next year he might be able to get 1400 metres.”
Thompson is not concerned about the prospect of a wet track.
“Any rain shouldn’t worry him,” Thompson said.
“He won two of his barrier trials on heavy tracks so he’s shown he can get through it.
“He’ll be going for a spell after this race and hopefully we’ll look at the bigger races in Melbourne like the Coolmore.”
The Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is at Flemington in October.
