Yesterday’s impressive Canterbury winner Unbiased will now head to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival with the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11 his main target.
James McDonald, above, guided Unbiased to an easy win at Canterbury. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The John O‘Shea trained Unbiased made his rivals in the 1550m BenchMark 67 Handicap look second rate when he raced away in the straight to record a four lengths win with a minimum of urging from James McDonald.
McDonald had Unbiased travelling smoothly in the second half of the field before easing him to the outside approaching the home turn.
Godolphin’s number one jockey let Unbiased gain momentum under his own steam and he only had to give him a couple of reminders with the whip in the left hand when the colt strayed off his line half way down the straight.
Unbiased was having his second run back from a spell after running third first up in a 1300m Warwick Farm BenchMark 67 Handicap two weeks earlier and stable representative Darren Beadman said that run gave the stable a lot of confidence going into yesterday’s race.
“He put the writing on the wall first-up hitting the line strongly first-up over an unsuitable trip, then backed it up with an effortless win today,” Beadman said.
“He will likely head to Brisbane next start and continue his way towards the Derby, he gives the feel of a good staying horse and has a beautiful temperament.”
McDonald was very impressed with the way the Medaglia D’Oro colt took care of his opposition and has no doubt that he will be competitive in the Queensland Derby when he heads to Brisbane.
“He is a real lovely horse, he got a nice run in transit and travelled nicely into the turn and just had way too much on them,” McDonald said.
“We probably hit the front a touch soon than I would have liked but I couldn’t have been happier with the way he put them away.
“I assume he will likely head to Brisbane now and be rather competitive.”
Unbiased has raced seven times for two wins, two seconds and two thirds.
