Cups Targets Pencilled in for Derby King

Triple Derby winner Explosive Jack could have a big spring instore after his pleasing three-year-old season, according to loveracing.nz. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt won the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m), Gr1 Australian Derby (2400m), Gr1 South Australian Derby (2500m), and placed in last Saturday’s Gr1 Queensland Derby (2400m) behind fellow Kiwi-bred Kukeracha (see below). The son of Jakkalberry will now head for a well-deserved break before being prepared for Cups targets in the spring. “Saturday was always going to be it, win, lose or draw. It (the Q22) was never going to be an option to do that. He’d done more than enough," Eustace told racing.com. "We’ve got a spring plan, which could obviously change, but he’ll have three weeks off and then pre-train up there (in Queensland), then head down to Newcastle and spend a little bit of time there at the beach and then Warwick Farm. Ultimately, he’ll go Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m), Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) and have a couple of prep runs leading into that." Explosive Jack was purchased by Moody Racing out of Novara Park’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000.