Plans for a tilt at the ATC Australian Derby with Hurstville Zagreb were cruelled by an untimely injury but the three-year-old might yet get a chance to fulfill his classic potential.
Unbeaten in two starts, the gelding had been set to start favourite in a 1900m race at Rosehill on March 15 with a view to progressing to the Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and potentially, the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
However, he kicked out in the tie-up stalls and suffered a wound to his foot, forcing his race day scratching from the benchmark assignment which was subsequently won by barn mate and early Queensland Derby favourite King Of Thunder.
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton had little option but to abandon Sydney autumn carnival plans for Hurstville Zagreb, although they remained hopeful he could make up for lost time in the coming weeks.
Hurstville Zagreb will step out in a 1050m barrier trial at Randwick on Thursday with a longer-term view to joining King Of Thunder for a possible Queensland Derby bid.
“We will get through the trial and then there are a couple of nice races in Sydney for him,” O’Shea said.
“We will see how he performs there and be guided by his performances in terms of what we do with him going forward.
“But we are open to everything, as always.”
Provided he comes through the trial well, Hurstville Zagreb is likely to head to a 1600m benchmark race at Gosford two weeks from Saturday.
There is a 2000m race at Randwick a fortnight later with the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm a week after that on May 31.
Stablemate Maximum Dividend will also trial on Thursday after showing promise at his only two starts for the stable during the spring.
After winning first-up at Wyong in October, the import finished runner-up to Tajanis over 1900m at Canterbury, that horse going on to win at Listed level over the Australian summer and finish second in the Group 2 Auckland Cup.
O’Shea said there were no grand plans for Maximum Dividend at this stage but he was a horse they hoped could work his way through the grades.
“He has come back really well and we’re really pleased with him. He is right on track,” he said.
