Caulfield trainer Colin Little will be looking to add to Vassilator's black-type record later this month when he lines-up his promising three-year-old in the Group III Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.
The Zacinto colt, who won the Listed Anzac
Day Stakes (1400m) last season, finished third in an 800m trial at Cranbourne
on Monday and his trainer believes he will take a lot of improvement out of the
run.
"He had a soft trial on Monday at Cranbourne, finishing third, and ate up," Little said. "He over-raced while fresh, got his head up and was a bit too keen, but he'll probably go around on his home track at Caulfield, Saturday week.
"The 800m trial was a bit short, but he's still a colt and a bit above himself. We'll see how he goes, but he's preparing for the Caulfield Guineas and if he's good enough that's the way we're heading.
"We're happy with him. He's a sound horse, strong, and rather than give him another trial I think I'll give him a race. The pace over 1100m will go away from him and he can tuck in behind and relax which is what we want to see from a horse destined for 1600m plus."
Vassilator was purchased by his trainer for $25,000 out of Windsor Park Stud's draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale.
His sire Zacinto will take up residence at Valachi Downs in Matamata this season where he will stand for a service fee of $15,000+GST. – NZ Racing Desk
