A drop back to 1600m or a rise to 2000m is the question Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman face after the win of Saban at Sandown.
Saban made it back-to-back victories at the track when he took out the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1800m) on Saturday having been successful over the same course and trip on May 24.
The Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 5 looms as a potential target for Saban after Saturday’s win.
However, after two wins over the 1800m journey, winning apprentice rider Luke Cartwright suggested now may be the time to step him up to 2000m again.
Settling in the second half of the field, Saban ($5.50) charged home to score a long neck victory from Earlswood ($10) with the $4.60 favourite Sayedaty Sadaty a further two lengths away third.
“I knew this fella would be perfect at the trip,” Cartwright said.
“He likes a mile. I don’t know if he sees out 2000 (metres) perfectly, but 1800 metres is his prime distance.
“He cruises up down that hill, then he has a bit of think when he hits the front, but he knew he was going to win that race.
“He loves 1800 metres and the way he’s settling in his races and being an older horse, maybe now is the time to try him over 2000 metres to see if he gets it.”
Moody, who was on holiday when Saban was successful at Sandown last month, said Saban had shown promise as a younger horse before spending some time in the wilderness.
“He won a Listed race as a three-year-old and then probably went missing, but now that he’s matured and strengthen up, he’s starting to hit his straps,” Moody said.
“With Luke’s claim, coming in under the limit weight and striking form, you tend to hold it.
“I think a mile, 1800-metres, is right in his wheelhouse.
He’s probably shown that he is not a genuine stayer, so if he’s got to run in a race like the Winter Championship, we’d certainly look at it.”
