Preferment is an equine version of Steve Moneghetti.
There isn’t much sprint in his legs but put him over the equivalent of a marathon distance and it becomes clear he is born to run.
He proved it in the spring when he was tested over a genuine staying trip and broke his maiden in the Victoria Derby.
And he proved it again to his trainer Chris Waller when he showed a first glimpse of form this campaign with a fighting last-start second to Volkstok’n’barrell over 2000m in the Rosehill Guineas.
“His first two runs he just got outsprinted,” Waller said.
“Clearly he is an extreme athlete over distance.
“He’s needs to get that distance to perform, it’s as simple as that. It’s quite remarkable.”
Preferment has been set the task of becoming the first horse since Mahogany in 1993/94 to win the Victoria and ATC Australian Derbys in the same season.
It has been a long-term goal since he took out the first leg of the rare double.
The colt won the spring classic at his seventh start and Waller says natural development and maturity means Preferment will head into Saturday’s race a much more complete racehorse.
“He was on and off the bridle in his work and just a big kid really whereas now, he knows what his job is about,” Waller said.
“He is a more mature horse, he is actually bigger and stronger as well which you would expect for a later three-year-old by Zabeel.”
The $3.50 equal favourite for the ATC Australian Derby, Preferment will be one of two runners for Waller along with Quick Strike who backs up after a closing fourth to Derby rival Hauraki in the Tulloch Stakes.
Waller can see similarities between Preferment’s form leading into the Victoria Derby and Quick Strike’s build-up to the Sydney blue riband.
“He’s got that lovely staying action and he’s bred to stay,” Waller said.
Quick Strike is a $15 chance with bookmakers who are rating the Tulloch Stakes form highly as Hauraki shares top billing at $3.50.
While there are doubts over the stamina of several Derby hopefuls, Waller is certain his two runners will relish the classic distance.
And he is reckoning on that alone being enough to guarantee they are in the finish.
“Throw the form out the window. Whatever stays 2400 metres in a Derby will run in the first three,” Waller said.”
