Trainer David Payne will consider next month’s Group One TJ Smith in Brisbane for Honorius after the two-year-old broke through for his maiden win at Canterbury.
The colt, ridden by Glyn Schofield, started the $2.70 favourite and chased down Fiveandahalfstar to win Wednesday’s Australian Turf Club Handicap (1550m) by a length with 2-1/4-lengths to third-placed Campania.
Honorius appreciated dropping back in grade after three starts in black-type races including his most recent in the Listed Fernhilll Handicap at Randwick when he was unplaced on a heavy track.
“His last start you can put a pencil through,” Payne said.
“He can’t handle the mud so in future we won’t be running him on a heavy track.
“But I think he’s going to be a nice horse once he gets over 2000 metres.
“He’s not a bad sort so I think he’s going to win a decent race.”
Schofield said the speed set by jockey Blake Shinn on runner-up Fiveandahalfstar suited Honorius and the son of Holy Roman Emperor chased hard to reel in the leader.
“I rode him the other day on the wet ground and he wasn’t at home at all in it,” Schofield said.
“He was a little bit slow away and struggled the whole way, but today on the firmer surface he got a better grip on it and he’ll go a little bit further as well I would say.”
Honorius is a half brother to champion South African mare Igugu, who was Australian-bred.
Payne has nominated the colt for the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) which will be run at Eagle Farm on June 9.
But the Rosehill trainer said while Brisbane was a definite possibility he would keep his options open.
“We might give him another start (in Sydney) or have a look at Brisbane,” Payne said.
“He’s nominated for the TJ Smith. He’d be a nice horse for that race.”
