A horse with a lot of heart and a full quota of staying ability will try to overcome the flaws in his trainer’s theories in Saturday’s Group Two Autumn Classic at Caulfield.
Subiaso tackles a couple of established three-year-old stayers and at least one other with tremendous potential in a race that will help sort out some Australian Derby aspirations.
The Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar and Super Cool, the horse who finished closest to him in the Flemington classic, justifiably dominate the betting on Saturday’s race.
But trainer Robbie Laing isn’t certain they will dominate the race.
“I thought Subiaso would beat those horses in the Derby last spring,” Laing said.
“Why shouldn’t I think he can beat them now.”
The obvious hole in Laing’s theory is that Subiaso didn’t beat them in the spring, finishing ninth to Fiveandahalfstar.
That conclusion, however, doesn’t take into account the improvement Subiaso has made in the three months since, the trainer says.
Subiaso went into the Derby as the winner of a modest three-year-old maiden at Seymour but also had a solid fourth in the Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield, when he was less than a length from the winner, to recommend him.
Laing believes Subiaso’s last-start win at Sandown showed he had improved during his summer break .
“That was his third run and he appreciated stepping out to the 1600 metres,” Laing said.
“I thought it was a pretty tough effort to carry 60 kilos and win.”
Laing believes the 1800m on Saturday will suit Subiaso even better, but admits the next step in the horse’s campaign could be more difficult.
“The Australian Guineas is the obvious race,” he said.
“But we’ll be taking on All Too Hard, so we might have to look for something else.”
Fiveandahalfstar is a solid favourite in the Autumn Classic at $2.60, ahead of Super Cool at $2.90.
High Shot, who came to Caulfield last start with a massive reputation that was matched only by his attempts at pre-race romance in the horse stalls, is next in the betting, followed by Subiaso.
