Trainer Clayton Douglas has Group 1 autumn aspirations with Top Reward who will kick off his campaign in a Stakes race at Caulfield.
The Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) on Saturday will see the return of the son of Shamus Award who raced twice during the spring before being sent for a break.
A debut winner over 1500m at Mornington in October, Douglas sent Top Reward straight to Stakes company running third, albeit six lengths away, behind Sheza Alibi in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield the following month.
Douglas took Top Reward to Caulfield on Tuesday morning for a gallop with stablemate Mr Waterville in preparation for Saturday’s return.
Longterm, Douglas has the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April in mind for Top Reward who will step to the 1800m of the Group 2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield on February 21 after Saturday’s first-up run.
He’s a lovely colt. He’s got a lovely brain about him and he’s got nice ability,” Douglas said.
“It was good to get those couple of runs into him in the spring and he’s come back a more furnished colt now.
“We’ll probably look to step him up to 1800 metres second-up, which may be better for him, but he’s a lovely, clean-winded horse and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes first-up.
“He could be a Derby colt, but we’ll take each run as it comes, but over the next eight to 12 weeks, there are plenty of options for him, but so long as he keeps stepping up to the mark, well keep putting it to him.”
Top Reward has had two jump-outs in preparation for his return and Douglas concedes the 1400m may be on the short side on Saturday.
“He’s got good gate speed, so I wouldn’t think he would be too far away,” Douglas said.
“But there might be something that’s a bit sharper than him on Saturday but going forward he might be a horse to look out for.”
Stablemate Mr Waterville is entered for the benchmark 84 over 1600m on Saturday as well as the Colac Cup (2000m) on Friday and the Listed Premier’s Plate (2006m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Mr Waterville, an Irish-bred import who was trained by Chris Waller when he first arrived in Australia, is yet to race for Douglas.
“He trialled well here last week and to me he’s a horse that would prefer to kick off over 10 furlongs, that’s probably more suitable for him,” Douglas said.
Douglas indicated Mr Waterville’s future may lie over hurdles with the jumps season looming.
