Iconoclasm could be set for a Group One handicap at Flemington after bouncing back to winning form at Caulfield in his first start since undergoing throat surgery.
The Darren Weir-trained Iconoclasm won five of his eight starts as a three-year-old last season but had been winless in two runs this preparation.
After an eighth in a Listed race at Moonee Valley early last month the four-year-old underwent a throat procedure and connections were able to press on with his spring campaign.
Having his first start for five weeks, Iconoclasm settled fourth in Saturday’s Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) before working into the race three-wide on the home turn.
With apprentice Ben Allen aboard, Iconoclasm ($11) drew away to win by 2-1/4-lengths over Fastnet Tempest ($9) to give the horse’s sire Toorak Toff his first stakes win.
Sircconi ($4.20), who was held up behind runners early in the straight, was another neck away third.
Iconoclasm’s part-owner Rosemont Stud’s Anthony Mithen hopes Saturday’s victory will push the horse’s rating up enough to get into the Group One Kennedy Mile (1600m) on November 3 at Flemington.
The four-year-old is unbeaten in three Flemington starts.
“We hope and dream that we could maybe get there,” Mithen said.
