Much travelled three-year-old Finance Tycoon has found winning form again with an all-the-way victory at Caulfield.
Having his third start for the Danny O’Brien stable having started his career with Lindsay Park, Finance Tycoon led throughout to claim the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
It was a smart ride from Damien Lane on Finance Tycoon allowing the three-year-old to roll along at his own tempo in front.
When collared in the straight, Finance Tycoon ($6) responded to Lane’s riding to score a three-quarter length win from the $1.90 favourite Generation with Chartres ($26) 1-½ lengths away third.
Finance Tycoon required a throat operation following his first start for his new stable and O’Brien said the small field on Saturday allowed Finance Tycoon to find the lead and control the race.
“We played to our strengths today,” O’Brien said.
“Once he began, we had that tactic of trying to break them from the front. He ran those really slick sectionals and made it difficult for them to get on his back.
“He was entitled to shorten up late, but I thought he was really good.”
O’Brien said he needed to be careful in his placement of Finance Tycoon and because of the wind operation he does not know if the colt will get further than Saturday’s 1200m.
He said the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 12 would be a race the stable may consider.
“He’s a horse that has had a wind operation already, so you’ve always got to be cautious of that,” O’Brien said.
“We’ve found something he does very well, as a two-year-old in The Showdown, and again today, 1200 metres on-pace.
“He’ll only get 50-kilos in the Newmarket so getting him back down the straight, he’s won down the straight before, so we may see what he can do there.”
