The performances of two Richard Laming-trained horses at Caulfield will determine whether they earn their way to Queensland for feature races.
Two-year-old Easy Beast is favourite to break through for his first win at his third start in Saturday’s Chef’s Hat Plate (1100m).
If Easy Beast impresses, Laming will consider taking him north for the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes two weeks later.
The colt also holds a nomination for the Group One J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) next month and Laming said he would take it one race at a time.
“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday,” Laming said.
“If he was impressive there’s a chance we’ll go to the Sires’ over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm.”
After finishing third on debut at Caulfield last month, Easy Beast was caught late by Macteir at Bendigo in a 1000m maiden last Friday.
“The reason why I’m going to run him on Saturday is that he has really come on since his last run,” Laming said.
“He’s absolutely thriving.
“It looks a nice race for him. Unless there is a superstar amongst the unraced horses, I think he’ll be awfully hard to beat.”
Three-year-old So Poysed steps up to 2000m in Saturday’s Noel Rundle Handicap after running a distant third to subsequent Australasian Oaks winner Egg Tart over a mile at Flemington on April 25.
The gelding has the second outside barrier in the field which had 15 runners before final scratchings.
“I thought he would be extremely hard to beat if he drew a good barrier but he’s drawn awkwardly out there so he’s going to need a good ride and a lot of luck,” Laming said.
“But I’m very happy with the horse and I think the distance will really suit him.”
So Poysed holds a Queensland Derby nomination and Laming said he could head to the Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) on May 27.
“I was hoping he would draw well on Saturday and be very hard to beat and if he was impressive he would go up there,” he said.
“We’ll have to take all that into account after Saturday.”
Laming has He Ekscels in Saturday’s South Australian Derby at Morphettville and said he had come through his last-start Caulfield win over 1800m well which convinced him to give him a crack at the 2500m-Group One race.
