Going straight from a maiden to the Carbine Club Stakes isn’t the path Clinton McDonald planned for Conquer The World, but he’s not letting that shake his confidence in the gelding.
The Toronado three-year-old will graduate from a big Cranbourne maiden win to the 1600-metre Group 3 at Flemington on Derby Day.
The $500,000 Carbine Club Stakes is renowned for producing top-liners, from Saintly to Aeliana with a swag of Group 1 winners in between, and McDonald is optimistic Conquer The World can live up to his name.
“I think he’s a very good horse and potentially a very good horse,” the Cranbourne trainer said.
“We’re just taking him along very steady, not asking too much of him, and I think this is a nice progression; fourth run into the Carbine Club at 1600m.
“He’s a big imposing individual and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
It took Conquer The World three starts to break his maiden, but there was merit in the two runs prior – a narrow second over 1325m at Geelong, which followed a huge debut third placing over 1100m, when he flashed home from the rear to be beaten less than 1-1/2 lengths.
He showed the benefit of those first two runs when he streeted his rivals by six lengths over 1400m at Cranbourne on October 16 with Ben Melham aboard.
“Since he had that second-up run, where Ben gave him one around the bum for the first time ever in his life, it really switched him on and we saw what he did at Cranbourne,” McDonald said of his development.
Conquer The World is raced in similar interests to stablemate Nikitria, who will also be in action at Flemington on Derby Day.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun will be given the chance to book her spot in Thursday week’s VRC Oaks (2500m) via the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
Nikitria has been unplaced in two runs at 1600m since her first-up win over 1300m at Seymour on September 10 and McDonald has been looking forward to stepping her up in trip.
“We reckon she’s looking for 2000 and we’ve put blinkers on her just to sharpen her up a little bit,” McDonald said.
“She’s been a victim of her barriers that filly, always having to go back because she hasn’t drawn a gate, but if she draws a barrier she’ll land in the first half-dozen and she’ll stay all day.”
