Stakes races in Brisbane are now on the agenda for Highvol after the Nick Ryan-trained galloper maintained his perfect record at Flemington.
After a debut win at Flemington on Anzac Day, Highvol added the Trevor Clarke Handicap (1400m) to his record with a solid win on Saturday.
Holding a booking for a flight to Brisbane on Tuesday evening, Ryan said Highvol only needs to recover well from Saturday’s victory to be northern bound.
Sent out the $3.10 betting companies favourite under Ethan Brown, Highvol scored a three-quarter length win from Buccleuch ($12) with Warrior Smile ($13) the same margin away third.
The Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 will be the gelding’s first assignment in Brisbane followed by the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) two weeks later.
“Fingers crossed he pulls up well and he’s on the plane into Queensland on Tuesday night,” Ryan said.
“He’ll be a late nomination for the Sires’ on Monday, so he’ll run in the Sires’ in two weeks and then into the J J Atkins.
“There’s a lot of upside. I’ve cruised along with him knowing he’s got a big four weeks ahead.
“We’ve just ticked a box getting through soft conditions today and he can put himself in a winning position, so that’s a second box ticked.
“Now we’ve just got to get him up there healthy and fit.”
Ryan said he would be guided by how Highvol performed in Brisbane as to what the gelding’s spring campaign may look like.
While not ruling out the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October, Ryan conceded it was a difficult task after a Brisbane campaign.
“It’s a quick turnaround from the J J Atkins to the Caulfield Guineas,” Ryan said.
“Not many horses have a good record at coming back for it, look at Broadsiding last year, but horses thrive up there with the sun on their back
“It’s all performance based and how he pulls up. If not, we may look at a late spring and then on to the autumn.”
