Denwood will take the first steps towards a long-range Queensland Derby mission during the Brisbane winter carnival when the three-year-old makes his comeback at Doomben.
Denwood will make his stable debut for Sunshine Coast trainer Troy Hall in Wednesday’s Sequalo@Lyndhurst Maiden Handicap (1200m) after being transferred from disqualified trainer Darryl Hansen in December.
Denwood has not raced since finishing seventh to Strike The Stars in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill last September.
The son of Greenwood Lake, who will be ridden by apprentice Anthony Allen, has been in work more than three months and is primed for a successful first-up assignment.
“I expect him to win in this field,” Hall said.
“He had been in work about four weeks before he came to me from Darryl just before Christmas and all up he’s been in work more than three months.
“I gave him a jumpout at Caloundra last week and he went terrific.
“He should win the way he went in the jumpout and on his work. Our plan is to aim him towards the Derby if he shows he can stay.”
The Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on June 9.
Denwood was one of six horses acquired from Hansen after the Caloundra trainer lost an appeal against a six-month disqualification as a result of Hussonator returning an elevated TC02 reading at the Mackay Cup meeting last July.
“I got six horses off Darryl and from the three that have raced I’ve had two wins and a second,” Hall said.
“I don’t know a lot about Denwood other than what he has shown me around the stables.
“Chris Munce rode him in the Gloaming and he said then his campaign had come to an end.
“He’s a tough little nugget and a good doer in the stable so he should run well fresh.”
Hall booked Allen after being impressed by his recent form in the Brisbane metropolitan area.
Allen is indentured to Grafton trainer John Shelton but plans to transfer to Deagon-based Steele Ryan.
“I don’t know a lot about Anthony but he’s got plenty of vigour and is a very neat rider,” Hall said.
“He’s in form and has been riding winners in the city for the past month.”
AAP TUR
