Trainer Greg Eurell will consider a trip to Sydney for Ilovemyself after the colt overcame a difficult passage to win on debut at Flemington.
Jockey Damien Oliver had to use all his skill to get Ilovemyself a clear path in forging his way to victory in Saturday’s Listed Very Special Kids Plate (1000m).
Eurell said the Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill on March 14 was a possible next assignment for Ilovemyself and if successful consideration would be given to paying a late entry fee for the following week’s Golden Slipper, also at Rosehill.
Connections of the two-year-old would need to pay $150,000 to have Ilovemyself run in the showpiece. However, the colt is nominated for the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 4.
Sent off the $4.20 favourite, Ilovemyself raced to a three-quarter length victory from River Night ($7), with Time Is Precious ($8) the same margin away third.
Eurell said it was hard to watch Oliver locked away and in an awkward position on Ilovemyself, adding it would have been a disappointing way to lose.
“Once he did get out and start to stretch out he is a very tough horse and it was just a matter of hoping the line didn’t come up too quick,” Eurell said.
“The Pago Pago is on in a fortnight which we’ll give consideration to contesting, and trialling him at Werribee shows he handles the wet so that side won’t worry us and he looks better suited to 1200 metres.
“It might be worth sneaking up there and seeing what he can do and if he’s lucky enough we might have to stay up there in Sydney and see if there’s a race further down the track.”