Trainers David and Coral Feek will have some thinking to do in coming weeks after the win of Gold Wolf at Caulfield.
Gold Wolf proved the superior staying three-year-old when he scored a shock win in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) on Saturday.
Ridden by Neil Farley, Gold Wolf ($41) scored by a head from the $3.10 favourite Antrim Coast with Cherokee Brave ($14) a further 1-¾ lengths away third.
At stake in coming weeks for the Feek’s is whether to head to the $1 million Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in four weeks’ time or stay in Melbourne for the Listed $175,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25.
“The VRC St Leger and the South Australian Derby have to be an option for him, but we’ll enjoy the win today and see how the horse pulls up,” David Feek said.
“But the St Leger could be a good option because it looks like the further he goes the better he will like it.”
Gold Wolf showed his staying potential two starts ago finishing second in the Listed Tasmanian Derby before Feek applied a set of blinkers to the gelding when taking on older horses at Sandown over 2400m and his most recent start.
Feek said Gold Wolf raced erratically that day and the decision was made to remove the headgear from the gelding.
“Today was really pleasing and in his age group he looks like he will have quite a good time for the next few months,” Feek said.
“He was fantastic in the Tasmanian Derby, but he was still very raw, and I think he’s continuing to thrive in his environment.
“We’ve had a nice mix up of mile jump-outs in between his races and he just continues to learn and develop and if he continues to do that he will get better with age.”