Matt Cumani targets first Group 1 with Khoekhoe in the Australian Derby

Matt Cumani gave Khoekhoe a “hell of a shout” in the Rosehill Guineas but he’s hoping to save his breath for a few moments longer when his colt lines up in Saturday’s Australian Derby (2400m).

Cumani heads to day one of The Championships at Randwick chasing a maiden Group 1 and believes his son of Turffontein is capable of delivering it on the big stage.

The Ballarat trainer is banking his emerging three-year-old bouncing back from his sixth place finish in the last month’s Guineas in Sydney’s west.

Khoekhoe had looked to be travelling strongly in the Rosehill Group 1 before finding himself stranded in an unfamiliar position in front, 400m from home with a wall of high quality opposition chasing.

MO'UNGA WINS THE ROSEHILL GUINEAS!

A FIRST GROUP 1 FOR TRAINER @ANeashamRacing. pic.twitter.com/frmccvb6XS

“I gave him a hell of a shout because he looked to be cruising up there,” Cumani said this week’s Derby barrier draw.

“I think he just ran a little bit with the choke out.

“Going out of the mounting yard he was bucking and he was fresh.

“He looked like he did when he was first-up, and that was the five weeks between runs which didn’t help.

“He probably did a bit too much and Kerrin (McEvoy) thought it was because he hit the front too soon and found himself alone, which he hasn’t had much experience doing.”

Cumani gained valuable insight from the performance and decided to push on with Khoekhoe towards the $2 million Australian Derby.

He opted against taking Khoekhoe back to his Ballarat base and has kept the colt in Sydney to prepare for his Derby assignment.

Matt Cumani. Photo: Hanna Lassen/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“The last two weeks has been trying to make sure we are getting the work into him to try and settle him,” Cumani said.

“We want him looking like a horse that is third-up and not first-up or second-up because that‘s certainly how he was looking and feeling before and after the Rosehill Guineas.

“He is a horse a that is quite naturally fit and the five weeks leading up to the race, I didn’t want to get to the bottom of him with a lot of travel.

“In hindsight it would have been great to come up and have a trial. That race will have taken the edge off him and he will go into this race a bit more relaxed and ready for the distance.”

Cumani believes Khoekhoe will be suited by the 2400m trip of the Derby and has been eyeing the race since he decided to bypass Victoria Derby last spring.

He will enlist the services of Victorian jockey Craig Williams this weekend.

Khoekhoe is a $10 elect for the Australian Derby with TAB.com.au.

Originally published asCumani persists with Derby tilt for Khoekhoe

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