Speedy Colt Has $1.8 Million Yearling Running In Decircles

Decircles

Decircles (pictured) upstaged Godspeed to win at Seymour

Three-year-old colt Decircles managed to upstage $1.8 million yearling Godspeed in the Rokeby Park Plate 3yo Maiden at Seymour Racecourse on Sunday.

Part-owner Frank Tagg was impressed with the Encosta De Lago colt’s winning performance.

“We were particularly happy with the result and just the way he did the job on the day,” Mr Tagg.

“(It was a) very good time on a Slow 7, I guess that was the impressive part about it.”

Jockey Dwayne Dunn went into the race believing that Decircles would emerge the winner.

“He went into the race fairly bullish,” Mr Tagg said of the jockey.

Prior to this campaign, Decircles finished second to Running Tall in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes last autumn.

“He had a really mixed preparation, we’d set him for the Blue Diamond (Stakes),” Mr Tagg said.

“(But in the Sires’ Produce Stakes) he showed his true potential.”

The Danny O’Brien-trained Decircles will now continue towards the $1 million Caulfield Guineas in October.

The colt will next contend the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 27.

“The stepping stones leading into the Caulfield Guineas are a bit haphazard down in Melbourne,” Mr Tagg said.

“We’ll send him for a spell after that and get them ready for the autumn.”

Decircles is out of the successful dam Lady Circles, who has consistently produced talented foals.

“She’s produced four foals to race, all winners and all stakes placed,” Mr Tagg said,

“We think Decircles will be the best.

“Although Danny (O’Brien) has the half-brother (which) raced second or third in a Group 1 race.”

Mr Tagg is also the part-owner of four-year-old Altius, who won his last race at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The Redoute’s Choice entire will look to continue his winning streak this Saturday under the direction of trainer Chris Waller.

“He runs this Saturday, Chris is stepping up to a benchmark 90,” Mr Tagg said.

The owner is hoping to target Altius at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 1.

“If he does a good race for us on Saturday… we’ll go to the Epsom,” he said.

“From this Saturday to the Epsom Chris (Waller) will just tinker with him and make sure he has enough prize money.

“At this stage it’s been a terrific success and we just hope it stays that way.

“Chris is fairly adamant the Epsom will be ideal for him.”

Mr Tagg believes Altius has the potential to be competitive in the $3 million Cox Plate in late October in Melbourne.

“I personally think he’s going to be a great 2,000 m horse,” Mr Tagg said.

“Hopefully he’ll head down to Melbourne and do well for us down there.”

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