Maher-Eustace colt has Queensland Derby on his radar

Bookies expect star colt Explosive Jack to complete a remarkable four-timer and win the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained three-year-old etched his name into the history books on Saturday when he became the first horse in 44 years to win three Derbies in a season.

Explosive Jack added the South Australian Derby to his resume in impressive fashion at Morphettville after earlier this year notching up wins in the Tasmanian and Australian Derbies.

Stormy Rex completed a similar winning feat in 1977 when claiming a Derby hat-trick in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

But Explosive Jack now looks poised to attempt to match the efforts of the Bart Cummings-trained Dayana, which claimed four Derby victories back in 1972, after Maher declared on Saturday that the Queensland Derby remains on the stable’s radar.

The news sees Explosive Jack now sit a clear $4 outright favourite with Sportsbet for the Queensland Derby while he had his price cut from $8 into $5 equal top seed with TAB.com.au.

Maher and Eustace are yet to make a final decision on whether he will head to the staying test however South Australian Derby runner up Let’s Karaka Deel will travel to Queensland.

“We will get him (Explosive Jack) home and have a good look at him but he has pulled up well after the race,” Maher said.

“It‘s definitely something we will consider for him and Let’s Karaka Deel.

“It was a super run from Let‘s Karaka Deel, he travelled well and was on the bridle and ran accordingly.”

Let’s Karaka Deel was an excellent runner up in Adelaide on Saturday and had his price slashed from $21 into $8 for the Queensland Derby with TAB.

The $600,000 Queensland Derby is staged on May 29 at Eagle Farm.

Originally published asExplosive Jack favoured for Derby four timer

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