Decorum, the lightly raced three-year-old, has notched up three triumphs from four runs, hinting at a campaign towards the Group One Rosehill Guineas.
The colt from Michael Freedman’s stable started $1.65 favourite and followed his recent Warwick Farm comeback win with a resilient performance to take the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1600m) on Wednesday at that venue, snaring Lancelot Du Lac ($2.80) by half a length late.
Full brother to the 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland, this colt favours middle distances more than his speedy kin, with Tommy Berry sensing equal ability after steering him home.
“I just can’t wait to get him to 2000 (metres). He feels like he’s looking for that sort of ground,” Berry said.
“There is definitely a good race in him. I’m just not sure which one it is.”
Several autumn carnival feature races have nominations for Decorum, notably the Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas.
Attica, victor of the Spring Champion Stakes and resuming in the Hobartville Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, is a key rival for those targets, and Berry notes resemblances to Decorum.
Attica had bested Decorum by a whisker in their common debut at Warwick Farm last year, progressing swiftly to Group 1 honours three races later.
“Not that I’ve ridden Attica, but I’ve seen plenty of him, he reminds me a little bit of him a ‘prep’ ago, so he’s a prep behind him,” Berry said.
“He’s one of those horses, he’s a real working class horse and when the penny drops, which probably won’t be until the spring, he’s just going to keep going the way he’s going.
“The Randwick Guineas might be a little bit sharp for him, but you’ve probably got to go there on your way to a Rosehill Guineas.”
While Decorum’s win was arguably the benchmark of the card, Nash Rawiller stole the spotlight in the saddle with successes in the first three events.
He delivered on substitute ride Satirically for Tulloch Lodge initially, then added Wolf Gap under Anthony and Sam Freedman plus Straand Beauty from John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
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