Image: Bruno Canatelli
High Approach begins his campaign at Mooney Valley aiming for Derby success against older horses
Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander has Derby aspirations for High Approach who returns to racing at Mooney Valley.
A veteran of five starts, High Approach tackles older horses for the first time when he lines up in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m) on Saturday.
The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April and the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville next month are the derbies Alexander is looking forward to.
“It just depends on how it goes timing-wise, but going to Sydney would be great,” Alexander said.
“Sydney is a tough plan, but there’s a long way to go.”
There have been two racing preparations of the High Approach so far.
He began his career by running fifth behind the Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile at Ballarat in April before he was added to a Listed race over 1400 meters at Flemington on Anzac Day, finishing ninth behind Tijuana are.
On his return last spring, High Approach ran first-up fourth behind Yaki Ishii at Geelong, before winning the Ballarat Maiden on a synthetic track and then the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Descended to receive the prize. ,
Alexander pointed to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500 metres) at Flemington three days before his Melbourne Cup Day win, which came too soon.
And Alexander was surprised at the odds that went around Flemington’s high approach to success.
Alexander said, “The thing that put a lot of people off his first win was on Ballarat Synthetic, but it was supposed to be at Bendigo, but it got moved.”
“That’s why everyone walked away from the race a bit, but if you win a Bendigo maiden, it’s a lot better than a Ballarat synthetic maiden.”
Alexander expects the 1500m trip to be too short for High Approach on Saturday, but said the gelding was training well for his return.
“She has done very little wrong. The 1500m will be a bit quicker for her but she is in good form.”
“We have always liked him, and in his debut, he ran behind the Guineas winner and whether we know it or not, he has always raced against good horses.”
*Existing customers only. Second racing bet. Except SA and WA. T’s and C’s apply. Gambling responsibly.
