Derby redemption is the ultimate aim for Aberfeldie Boy in 2023, but it is likely to be a low-key start to the colt’s summer/autumn campaign.
The son of So You Think will almost certainly find himself in a maiden first-up before a path is plotted to one, or more, of the Group 1 Derbys run in the second half of the season.
Aberfeldie Boy’s luckless Victoria Derby third placing, when held up early in the straight before flashing home out wide to finish just 1-3/4 behind Manzoice, was just his fourth start in a race and co-trainer Mathew De Kock said the first mission was to make him a winner.
“At this stage we’ll probably kick him off in a maiden, just to try and get a win and a bit of confidence because he still hasn’t won a race,” De Kock, who trains with Robbie Griffiths, said.
“Then we’ll start looking at some of the Derbys that are around; Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane.
“But we’re keeping all options open at this stage.”
Aberfeldie Boy’s Derby placing, which came at $101, followed a fourth placing in the Listed Geelong Classic after minor placings in two maiden events on the synthetic track at Pakenham.
De Kock said serious consideration was given to running Aberfeldie Boy in the 3YO Cranbourne Classic after the Derby, but the decision was made to prioritise his first campaign of 2023.
“We were very tempted to run him in the 2000-metre race at Cranbourne, but we just thought we’d put him away and prep him nicely for this autumn season,” De Kock said.
“He had four-to-five weeks out but part of the four-to-five weeks he was still cantering down at Lauriston, so he had three weeks of doing nothing and two weeks of cantering and still going into the paddock and going to the beach.
“He’s doing well and we’re very happy with him.”