Promising three-year-old Amexed burst into Queensland Derby calculations with a devastating win in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on Saturday.
Amexed gave Melbourne jockey Michael Rodd a happy homecoming, scoring by a long neck over Kiwi stayer Telepathic with Glorious Lad, a further 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Rodd was Queensland’s champion apprentice before moving south several years ago.
Amexed, who was bought in New Zealand for $210,000 with the Queensland Derby in mind, showed a brilliant turn of foot to give trainer Tony Gollan another feature win during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Gollan won his biggest race of his career in Queensland when Temple Of Boom won the G2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm last month.
Amexed’s win showed there was another side to Gollan’s training skills as the three-year-old will be his first Derby runner in next month’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
“He’ll go to the Grand Prix in a fortnight then onto the Queensland Derby,” a beaming Gollan said.
“I’ve just got to keep him ticking over.
“We bought him in New Zealand with the Derby in mind so things are looking good so far.”
Telepathic produced a dour performance which pleased trainer Donna Logan from a Queensland Oaks viewpoint and is certain to improve following her Queensland debut.
“We’ll talk things over when we get home and see if we wait three weeks for the Queensland Oaks or run her in the Grand Prix in a fortnight,” she said.
“Her run peaked about 100 metres from the finish but that will tighten her up no end.”
– Racing Queensland
