Trainer Peter Snowden is leaning towards a Victoria Derby start for Complacent after the three year old took out the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick today.
Complacent stretches out to win the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Snowden will wait until the dust settles to see how Complacent recovers from from his Group 1 win before deciding if he makes the trip to Melbourne for the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in three weeks.
Complacent was only having his fifth race start and provided jockey Christian Reith with with his second Group 1 win after producing a copy book.
Reith, who won his maiden Group 1 on Nechita in last year’s $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, gave Complacent the run of the race, fourth on the fence, behind the leader Equator.
Reith patiently waited for the gap to open up and once in the clear grabbed the lead and never looked like being run down.
Snowden always felt that Complacent had plenty of ability but is a bit surprised on how quickly he has risen to the top.
“I think he won a maiden at Hawkesbury only two starts ago so it’s been a tremendous effort,” Snowden said.
“He’s a talented horse. Had a gun run, good ride, a very pleasing effort.”
Snowden took Complacent to Hawkesbury to kick off his Spring Carnival campaign and had no problem winning the 1400m maiden.
He then stepped the Authorised colt up to Group 3 company and saw him beat some good three year olds in the Group 3 $200,000 PJ’s Irish Pub Parramatta Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 28.
Now Snowden will have to make a decision if he is to push onto the Victoria Derby or send him to the paddock with the Autumn in mind.
“He’s a talented horse, there is no doubt he can stay and he is still very raw,” Snowden said.
“There is still a lot of improvement in the horse. He would make a lovely Autumn three year old. Group ones are great to win and the Derby is just around the corner. We will certainly give it a lot of thought anyway.”
Complacent was well in the market and started the second favourite at $5.50 in beating the David Payne trained Criterion ($12), who also could be heading to Flemington for the Victoria Derby.
Race favourite Savvy Nature ($3.20) made up plenty of ground in the straight from well back in the field to run into third place.
