The good form on paper stacked up in midweek country company and trainer Julius Sandhu is now eyeing a black-type feature on the other side of Melbourne for Sale winner Oxford Blue.
The Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on October 23 is where the Cranbourne-based horseman is hoping to send the three-year-old by 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.
The 1740-metre trip of the Ralcon Homes Plate was the minimum distance that Sandhu thinks the gelding will be effective over.
“I thought the only question mark would be that he is still learning mentally to put them away,” Sandhu said.
“I said to Ethan (Brown, jockey) that he might float a bit in front so don’t get to the lead too early, but he still handled it well.
“He is only getting warmer this trip.”
Oxford Blue ($2.50 betting favourite) ran third on debut at Sandown over 1500-metres and beaten by less than half-a-length behind subsequent Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) winner Too Darn Discreet and Vianarra who takes on the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
“He will lap up the extra distance at Geelong,” Sandhu added.
“He is the horse that is looking for a trip and the further he goes the better he’ll get.
“He’s a super relaxed animal and that is the key attribute.”
Oxford Blue scored by two-lengths over the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Hot Majesty ($4.20) with Godolphin’s Adinath ($31) a half-length away in third.