Smart country-trained sprinter Le Remas will be aimed at the Listed $125,000 Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool in May following his first metropolitan success at Sandown.
The Al Samer four-year-old has raced 11 times for four wins and three seconds including when runner-up under lights at Moonee Valley over 1200m last December.
The gelding was turned out for a spell after running sixth to Catapulted in the Group Three Standish Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on January 2.
Resuming in The Cove Hotel Hcp (1000m), Le Remas ($3.80 fav), ridden by Christine Puls, got home by a short head from Wordmaster ($17) with Asterix ($5) three-quarters of a length away third.
“The idea was to come here today and try to get a metropolitan win and we’d like to go to the Wangoom next start,” trainer Brian McKnight, who is based at Maldon in central Victoria and part-races Le Remas, said.
“I have been to Warrnambool before but not with a horse like this fellow.”
“It (Warrnambool in May) is certainly one of the great carnivals that Victoria puts on and hopefully we can be part of it.”
Meanwhile, trainer Anthony Freedman landed his 17th Sandown winner for the season when first starter Papillon took out the Hyland Race Colours Hcp (1000m).
The two-year-old Rock Of Gibraltar filly, ridden by Vlad Duric, was well fancied as $1.90 favourite and beat Balaclava Lady ($21) by three-quarters of a length with Burndiniburn ($7.50) 2-1/4 lengths away third.
Papillon is from Encosta De Lago mare Perfect Persuasion, a winning sister to former star filly Alinghi who won four Group One races – the 2005 VRC Newmarket Hcp, Robert Sangster Stakes, 2004 Thousand Guineas and Blue Diamond Stakes.
Papillon cost $160,000 at last year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“She’s a very promising filly. She wasn’t impressive today but she didn’t do a lot right and she will improve and is probably looking for a mile (1600m) as a three-year-old,” Freedman said.
“So to get it done at 1000 metres was good.
“In my mind she is a black-type filly and we will have a look at a race in Adelaide or Caulfield in the next couple of weeks and then probably give her a break and then in the spring she can get it done.”