Lightly-raced three-year-old Tower Of Lonhro will be on trial for a start in the South Australian Derby when he goes for his fourth successive win at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Lonhro gelding will be having his first metropolitan outing in the Eastern Bridge Plate (2000m).
Tower Of Lonhro has raced four times and was spelled after a promising debut effort when third to Decircles in a Seymour 1209m three-year-old maiden last August.
This preparation he has strung together wins in a Mornington maiden (1200m) in February, an Ararat rating 0-62 (1600m) in March and a Sale Showcase rating 0-72 (1736m) in April.
“He’s a progressive sort of staying type. I’m very hopeful he can run well on Saturday and then progress to the South Australian Derby,” trainer Jason Warren said.
“We’ve been a little bit choosy about where we’ve run him this time in and although he won a Showcase race last start there wasn’t a great deal of depth to it.
“He’s got to really step up this weekend.”
The Group One $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) is run at Morphettville on May 5.
Tower Of Lonhro is a half-brother to 2011 Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) winner Under The Eiffel who runs in Saturday’s feature, the Listed $100,000 Pink Ribbon Cup (1400m).
They are from the Danehill mare Spire who won three races including one over 2400m at Warwick Farm and was runner-up in a Listed AJC Services’ Memorial Cup (2400m) and fourth in a Listed STC Winter Cup (2400m).
Tower Of Lonhro, to be ridden by Andrew Mallyon, has drawn barrier 14 in the field of 12 plus four emergencies.
Second emergency Practised has been scratched.
The Leon Corstens-trained Zabeel colt Zabeelionaire, also being aimed at the SA Derby, is $3.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Galilee Series Final winner Backbone ($6), last-start Caulfield longshot winner Red Typhoon ($7) and first emergency Fastnet Prince ($8).
Tower Of Lonhro is at $14.
AAP TURF mr/gm
