Fabulanski to target Group 1 Victoria Derby
Fabulanski (right) has lived up to expectations with a hard-fought victory.
Robbie Laing has his sights on winning his second Victoria Derby, this time with a son of the horse he trained to win the Group One race six years ago.
Laing will target the 2500m Derby for three-year-olds at Flemington on November 2 after Fabulanski lived up to his expectations with a hard-fought victory in Saturday’s Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at the same track.
The colt is by Polanski who Laing trained to win the 2013 Victoria Derby.
Fabulanski went into Saturday’s Listed race for two-year-olds as a maiden after five starts but Laing said he was confident the colt would win, coming off a last-start second at Bendigo over the same distance.
The colt took up the lead in Saturday’s race under Linda Meech and kept rallying late to hold off $2.25 favourite Rubisaki.
Fabulanski, who firmed from $51 to $31, beat Rubisaki by a head with Pancho ($7.50) another three-quarters of a length away third.
“I thought his run at Bendigo last start was indicative of coming here and winning today,” Laing said.
“He covered an extra six or eight lengths at Bendigo. He dropped in weight today and his work had improved.”
Laing felt the filly Rubisaki, who had to carry 59kg, might also have been a little suspect over the 1600m so he said their plan was for Fabulanski to roll along and “make it a good, tough mile”.
“And it worked,” Laing said.
With the Listed race win and prize money now on the board, Laing said it took the pressure off in regards to the colt’s spring program leading to the Derby.
“That was the plan,” he said.
“He’ll have four weeks off and we’re on easy street with him now.
“We’ll just tailor his preparation all around getting him back here for the Derby.
“This horse is a big, powerful brute and he’ll run the 2500 metres on his ear. And they better watch out Derby Day.”