Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut is set to take on weight for age when he backs up in the Group 1 $2m Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut, above, will take on weight for age in the 2018 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Extra Brut was the star of Derby Day at Flemington last Saturday when he won the Group 1 $2m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m), giving premiership trainer Darren Weir his first win in the time honoured classic for the three year olds.
Weir is happy with the way Extra Brut has recovered from his win against his own age group and will now test him against some seasoned weight for age performers.
‘We are backing up Extra Brut in the Mackinnon and are happy to do so after his Derby win,” Weir wrote in his Racenet column.
“It’s a strong race but he has had a good week and I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think it was worth it.
“It is a $2m Group I race which can only enhance his value if he managed to win.
“The barrier draw (9) is not ideal, but he will get back again as he did in the Derby and it’s worth having a serious throw.
“It is a race of good depth but I am happy with him and happy to have a go. He has a big future.”
Extra Brut has drawn barrier nine in the ten horse Mackinnon Sakes field with Craig Williams taking over the reins from Victoria Derby winning jockey John Allen who can’t ride at the 51kg that the three year olds get to carry under the weight for age scale.
Extra Brut made a dramatic rise up through the ranks with Allen in the saddle and after winning his maiden at Sandown on August 29, the Domesday colt won his next two starts which included a win in the Listed $120,000 UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 6.
A sixth in the Group 3 $350,000 Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) at Caulfield on October 20 at his next start was only a minor hiccup before Extra Brut bounced back to the winner’s stall with his win in the Victoria Derby.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Mackinnon Stakes has Extra Brut marked at $7.50 while the all-conquering Charlie Appleby stable have the $2.20 favourite in Blair House who has drawn barrier two with English jockey William Buick in the saddle.
Blair House is coming off a last start second to the Saeed Bin Suroor trained Benbatl in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 13 with both carrying the Godolphin royal blue colours.
On the second line of betting in the Joseph O’Brien trained Irish Derby winner Latrobe who will wear Lloyd Williams’ navy blue and white colours.
Latrobe has drawn nicely at barrier three with Mark Zahra booked to ride.
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