Richard Litt has not given up on Profondo’s autumn campaign despite the Deep Impact colt’s inglorious display in Saturday’s Australian Guineas at Flemington.
The Warwick Farm trainer is keen to put the $1.9 million Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling’s failure as $4.60 favourite in the 1600-metre Group 1 behind him and reset on his Sydney goals to come.
“He just hung badly when he got around the corner,” Litt said of the three-year-old, who was having his first start in Melbourne.
“But that’s racing. We’ll regroup and go again. It’s a bit of a shame because you could see him getting lost.
“(It’s just) immaturity. We’ll get him back home and onto the Rosehill Guineas.
“It wasn’t a complete disaster. At least he’s got a run under his belt off that.”
Profondo, who was having just his fourth start, raced wide without cover from the second-outside alley in the field of 15 before racing erratically over the final 600m.
The Spring Champion Stakes winner finished 13th, 8.5 lengths from winner Hitotsu, and a post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Profondo now finds himself on the $6 fourth line of betting in TAB’s market on the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), which will be run on March 19.
Favourite, at $4, is Anamoe, marginally in advance of his Randwick Guineas conqueror Converge with Hitotsu at $5.