Impressive Doomben winner Code Noir could be a late addition to the Sydney autumn carnival if he can pass his next major test.
Code Noir produced a powerful finish in the final 200m to beat Lady Jetsetter by 1-3/4 lengths in Saturday’s Hardy Brothers Jewellers Hcp (1110m).
The gelding ran almost a full second faster than the other division of the three-year-old race.
Code Noir is now undefeated in two starts and first caught the eye when he trialled well at Deagon before his first-up win at the Gold Coast.
Trainer Matt Dunn has a big opinion of Code Noir who is by Glenlogan Park sire Red Element and raced by a syndicate headed by the stud’s boss Jon Haseler.
Code Noir was passed in for $16,000 at the Magic Millions Sales in 2013 and Haseler decided to race the gelding himself.
Dunn has picked out a $100,000 QTIS bonus race at the Gold Coast for Code Noir’s next start.
“Then we will decide which way to go – the winter carnival or Sydney,” Dunn said.
Code Noir is entered for the Australian Derby on April 4 but Dunn says there are some lesser three-year-old races which will also suit the gelding.
Winning jockey Ric McMahon said Code Noir had struggled early with a strong pace and would be better suited over more ground.
Dunn, who is based at Murwillumbah, ran third in last season’s Brisbane premiership and is fourth on the table this time around.
