A trip north or a break to get ready for the spring is what trainer Lloyd Kennewell must weigh up after Straand Deal made it a winning hat-trick at Sandown.
Success in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (2400m) on Saturday was Straand Deal’s first at the trip after victories over 2014m at Morphettville and 2100m at Sandown.
The race was billed as contest between two lightly raced developing stayers with Simurgh riding the speed while Straand Deal was ridden conservatively by Billy Egan.
Straand Deal ($4.20) wore down the $3.20 favourite Simurgh to score by a head with Oceana Dream ($8) a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Kennewell said the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 4 would be considered if it was decided to press on, otherwise the gelding would be given a break to hopefully prepare for the bigger spring races.
Last year’s Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours took out the Caloundra Cup enroute to his dual Cups success.
“He’s a nice stayer in the making,” Kennewell said.
“I’ll have to have a chat to Gerry Harvey as to whether we push to a Caloundra Cup or whether I stop and reset.
“He might be a horse that can get into a nice race off a lightweight as he’s got so much more to give. He’s got a big tank, and I don’t know if I want to gut him or not.
“I think you dream big and you have to in this industry as how many chances to you get with a horse to get to a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup.
“He might not be the right horse, but he might be, but if you don’t try you don’t know.
“People pay millions overseas and I’ve got one in my backyard that has won three on the bounce and is a nice horse.
“If I think he’s had enough, I will stop on Monday and he can have a spell with Mbube, otherwise he could be on a plan to Caloundra.”
The win of Straand Deal completed a double for Kennewell who won the opening race, the Sportsbet Fastform Handicap (1000m) with debutant Mbube.
