Trainer Robbie Laing is convinced Double Bluff is on target for another crack at the Adelaide Cup after winning at Caulfield.
Seven-year-old Double Bluff finished second in the Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m) last March and Laing believes he was unlucky not to win.
“When he should have been joining in on the turn he was running into dead ends and we thought he should have nearly won,” Laing said.
“We’ll be there hopefully winning it this year.”
Double Bluff ($15) got out to a staying distance for the first time this campaign in Saturday’s Robert Hunter Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield and he finished well to beat Dornier ($21) by a long neck with Al Haram ($5) another 3-1/4 lengths away third.
Laing is yet to decide Double Bluff’s exact path to the $400,000 Adelaide Cup on March 12 but believes he will need only two starts in between.
Laing said the gelding spent time off the scene after his third in last year’s Easter Cup recovering from a suspensory injury.
Saturday’s race was Double Bluff’s fourth run back after finishing unplaced over 1200m, 1400m and 1800m.
“I thought he could win,” Laing said.
“His run in the Easter Cup, the Adelaide Cup and his win at Flemington in January last year were terrific.
“I thought his run in the Standish Handicap first-up this campaign when he was beaten six lengths over 1200 metres was enormous, and his next two runs were OK.
“But his work has been terrific since.”
