Winner of the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick back in April, Sun Bloodstock's Fiorente (IRE) gelding Power Scheme carried his topweight of 60kgs to a fighting win against a talented field of three-year-olds over 1500 metres in the opener at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for the David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig triumvirate, Power Scheme raced midfield before being eased out to the three-wide lane approaching the home turn and was strong to the line in defeating his million dollar stablemate Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) by a half-length with Skiddaw (Hinchinbrook) a short-head back in third. (images Grant Courtney )
Power Scheme was making his first start since finishing midfeld in the Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes at Randwick on April 20.
Zahra said Power Scheme has become more focused after being gelded
"He was first up over 1500 metres so we needed the perfect run, which he had, they went quick early then steadied up around the side, got him into the clear and he was good enough to hold on," Zahra said.
"He's got a fair bit of improvement, so it was good to win first-up.
"I think he is a (Derby) horse for sure. We got him gelded and he's come back with his mind on the job."
Ben Hayes confirmed the son of Fiorente will continue on a path to the Victoria Derby.
"That was a very dominant win today. He wasn't wound up at all," Hayes said.
"He was first up with a big weight and he did it really nicely so it's very exciting and he is on that derby path now.
"That's a very good effort to come out and win first-up over 1500 metres to me that screams out he wants further and further so I'm really excited about him and he's an exciting horse going forward.
Bred and retained to race by Sun Bloodstock, Power Scheme has 2 wins a second and a third from 7 starts with earnings of $196,650.
A brother to the top-class Hawkshot the winner of the Group II MRC Autumn Stakes and runner up in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, Power Scheme is the third winner from as many to race from the Encosta de Lago mare Rosa Perlato, a daughter of stakes-placed Fiammarosa from the family of Group I winners Shindig and Shinzig.
Purchased for $41,000 from a Patinack Farm reduction in 2012, Rosa Perlato has a 2yo filly by Ready For Victory was covered by another of the Sun Stud sires last season in Thronum.
Power Scheme is one of four stakes-winners for Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente (IRE), who stands at Sun Stud in 2019 at a fee of $27,500.
