The major three-year-old races during the spring carnival are on the table for Long John after the unbeaten gelding ended his juvenile season with a stakes success at Flemington.
Lining up for his third start, the Peter Snowden-trained Long John was sent out the $1.70 favourite in Thursday’s Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1410m) and proved a class above his rivals, racing to a 3-3/4-length victory.
“He’ll be nominated for all the major races in the spring for the three-year-olds,” Melbourne stable foreman Paul Snowden said.
“It’s up to him whether he gets there but we can’t fault him on what he’s doing at the moment and he’s certainly going to improve with a break.”
The feature races on the horizon include the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and the Victoria Derby (2500m), with Snowden confident the son of Street Cry will be effective over longer distances next preparation.
Long John was able to get cover, one off the fence behind the lead, before jockey Steven Arnold angled him into the clear at the top of the straight.
Once he asked Long John to extend the talented youngster did so, putting a gap on runner-up Tikitour ($10) with Ready Cuz ($21) another short-head away third.
“I really think he’ll get a lot further than today,” Snowden said.
“He’s got a great action, he seems to get lower as he quickens and he’s strong.”
