Promises Kept on trial for staying targets

Trainer Greg Eurell says Promises Kept is still learning to be a racehorse but is showing signs of being a promising stayer.

After breaking through for his maiden win at Sale, the next step on the path is the Bendigo St Leger Trial (2200m) on Saturday.

In turn, Eurell hopes that will lead to the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Sandown on April 15 and then to either the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day or the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville next month.

“The Galilee Series Final is the target,” Eurell said.

“If we can get to that one that would be good and then it will be a toss-up of whether we head to the St Leger or to Adelaide for the Derby.”

Promises Kept landed his maiden win at start number seven, having finished ninth in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Sandown on February 25 at his previous start.

That race was won by Pericles, the second favourite for the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Eurell said Promises Kept ‘got away’ with the race at Sale after doing several things wrong.

“He’s just raw and needs to learn a little bit more about his craft, but once he puts it altogether, I think he will develop into a nice staying horse,” Eurell said.

“He’s very sound, a good horse to train and he’s a good winded horse.

“The Autumn Classic, it was a creditable run.

“He was out of his depth by a long way, but it did give us an indication that the horse has got ability there and had he been a little closer to the action, he probably finishes a bit closer, and it is an even more creditable run.”

Following his win at Sale, Promises Kept was sent to the water-walker at Monomeith Stud for a freshen up, returning to Eurell’s Cranbourne stable last Friday.

“We did a bit of work with him on Tuesday and he’s as good as gold,” Eurell said.