Victoria Derby runner-up Alegron is back in Melbourne to kick-off his autumn campaign at Flemington.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings decided to swing the gelding south to run in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on Saturday instead of starting him off in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill in which he would have been pitted against stablemate Anamoe.
Alegron will be having his first start since finishing second to Hitotsu in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington last October and will have the services of in form jockey Jye Mcneil.
“I really wanted to find something winnable for Alegron even if seven furlongs is way too short,” Cummings said.
“The Hobartville looked a bit strong, so I’ve sent him to Melbourne, and he’ll run in the C S Hayes. We will run him this weekend before he steps up to a mile and beyond.”
Alegron is entered for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington and the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), both on March 5, along with the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12 and the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 19.
He also holds an entry for the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 2.
“He’s a pretty interesting horse and he’s come back pretty well,” Cummings said.
“He’s quite forward and I’d be hopeful that he’s going to get himself into the game once the distances increase and become a potential Derby prospect.”
While Alegron will take his place on Saturday, Cummings is considering holding back Zethus for another week to run in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.
After a long break, Zethus made his return at Caulfield on February 5, finishing second to Generation in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m).
“That was six furlongs which probably tested out his match fitness late in the race coming up against Generation, who had mixed his form against Ingratiating and those good horses in the spring,” Cummings said.