New Zealand galloper Elephant has rebounded from his sole defeat with an impressive win at Sandown.
The Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained gelding suffered his first defeat in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley on September 4 before relishing the class drop in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) on Saturday.
Sent out the $2.35 favourite under Damian Lane, Elephant scored a 1-¼ length win from Romancer ($11) with Harbour Views ($7.50) two lengths away third.
Elephant has now won two of his three runs on Australian soil and the gelding is now set to run in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 9.
“That’ll be the plan and where we end up,” David Browne said.
“I was pretty nervous, to be fair, but he was super. That was pretty strong. He kept kicking to the line well and I think there is a bit more improvement yet.
“He’s strengthened up a bit and his coat has got a bit to go still. Hopefully he can carry on with it.
“In all his races, if you look at them, in the last bit he always finds a bit more and lengthens out really well. That’s where he gets it over the rest of them.”
Lane has been aboard Elephant in his two Australian victories while Luke Currie had the mount when the gelding was narrowly defeated by Superstorm at The Valley.
He said the gelding was still a “raw” horse but had taken some really good steps.
“He’s taken benefit from his two runs and he’s starting to put it together,” Lane said.
“Today he was still a little unsure in putting the race away and pricked his ears on the line, but he’s a horse who is learning and he’s certainly going about it the right way.”
Lane said Elephant was the right type for the Toorak Handicap, but hopes he is not too harshly handicapped after rising sharply in the ratings after the Feehan placing.
“Hopefully he doesn’t get any points for today or minimal and gets in with a nice weight,” Lane said.