The further he goes the better he will like it is the summation of trainer Archie Alexander about his Victoria Derby hope Teewaters.
The son of Dundeel will contest the Group 1 2500m Classic at Flemington on Saturday and Alexander is confident the three-year-old will have no trouble running out the journey.
Teewaters may only have had five starts, for a Ballarat maiden win over 2000m, and a further three placings, but each time Alexander has stepped him up in distance the gelding has relished it.
He finished last in a 1330m maiden at Geelong in July before returning the following month to finish second in a 1624m maiden at Donald and then another month later he finished third over 2000m, again at Donald, in maiden grade.
A heavy track at Ballarat made the 2000m test in his maiden victory a stern test before Alexander took Teewaters to town to finish third behind $4.40 Victoria Derby favourite Gunstock in the Group 3 Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield on October 16.
Teewaters is a $19 chance with TAB in Saturday’s race.
“The other day he was beaten fair and square by Gunstock,” Alexander said.
“But put another 500 metres into it and maybe Gunstock will still be too good, but I think our guy will come into his strength over further.
“You look at his record, he’s raced once over 1300, and he ran last, but everytime we’ve stepped him up in distance he hasn’t run out of the money.
“He hasn’t put in a bad run and hopefully he’ll continue to go that way.
“I think the big factor for a lot of them is, are they going to be able to get from 2000 to 2500 (metres).
“The Dundeel’s have run well in this race and a lot of the horses might be flasher and better than him over 2000, but it’s a proper test over 2500 metres.
“We’re well drawn. He’ll switch off and relax and I’m sure he’ll see the 2500 out.”