Feroce, the runner-up in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), was spotted at Wednesday’s Geelong trials, where the Dominic Sutton-trained gelding finished second over 1200 metres.
The three-year-old is set to have just one race before targeting the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March.
His upcoming race will either be the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8 or the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington the following week.
“He’s better performed at Caulfield, but the Group 1 is at Flemington,” Sutton explained.
“I think the more exposure we can give him at Flemington would be better leading into a Group 1 race, but he seems to be furnishing.
“I decided to trial him over the 1200 metres rather than the 1000 metres, simply because we’re going first-up over 1400 metres and then straight into the Australian Guineas.
“I wanted him to have a nice, strong piece of work this morning and he was excellent.”
Jockey Billy Egan added, “He feels like he’s matured again this time in. He relaxed nicely, went through his gears in the right manner to the line.”
Sutton now faces a decision on whether to race at Caulfield on Saturday week or wait for the CS Hayes Stakes the following week.
Feroce is currently a $26 chance with horse racing betting sites for the Australian Guineas.
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