Sterling Alexiou has indicated that the team is still learning about stakes-winning colt Southend, with his initial runs this campaign set to shape his spring campaign.
The three-year-old colt is set to resume in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes over 1400 metres at Rosehill on Saturday. Starting from barrier nine in a field of 11, he will be ridden conservatively.
“That’s probably the only disappointing thing. If he could have drawn a decent barrier, he would have had the option to race a bit handier,” Alexiou commented.
“Just that start is a bit tricky. We’ll probably have to take our medicine, balance up, and he’ll be finding the line well.”
After winning the Baillieu (1400m) at his second start in the autumn, Southend concluded his preparation when finishing sixth in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in April.
As a result, connections did not gain significant insight into his capabilities over a mile. Alexiou is hopeful that the colt’s performance on Saturday, and in his subsequent planned start in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), will provide more definitive pointers.
“We’re still feeling our way with him in regards to what his best distance is going to be,” he said.
“It was an end of ‘prep’ run (in the Champagne Stakes). He was up in trip, three weeks between runs and in a pretty strong race.”
“He’ll run on Saturday and then go to the Ming Dynasty, then we’ll work out if we go to a Golden Rose or a Caulfield Guineas, or a Dulcify Stakes and on to a Spring Champion Stakes.”
“We’ll know a lot more after Saturday, and a lot more after the Ming Dynasty.”
Southend has pleased Alexiou with his two trial runs, with the latest seeing him defeat the highly touted filly Chayan.
However, he has warned that the colt has always been on the robust side and will improve from his first-up run, though he anticipates a competitive return.
“I’m just really looking forward to getting him back to the races and seeing how much improvement he’s made,” Alexiou said.
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