Texas Fireball can shoot into Queensland Derby calculations in Tulloch Stakes acid test
Texas Fireball can put himself in the Queensland Derby picture during the winter if he steps up to his more fancied rivals in Sydney on Saturday.
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Many of his rivals have Australian Derby aspirations on Saturday, however the connections of Texas Fireball are looking for the progressive stayer to lay down a marker for the Queensland Derby in the winter instead.
Trainer Matt Dunn has always suspected the Zoustar gelding would appreciate getting up over a staying trip, which was franked in his last start at Eagle Farm where he was an impressive winner over 1800m, to give enough ammunition for a trip to Sydney.
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Leading syndicator Chris Wessel from Archer Park Racing said it had been a long-term plan since the day Texas Fireball was purchased to target a Derby, but wants to see his three-year-old to prove himself at the level on Saturday in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m).
“At the sales, Matt and the breeder agreed a mile to a mile and half was going to be his best trip, but you never know until you get them over it,” the Queensland-based Wessel said.
“He was strong the other day at the end of 1800m, so you’d think 2000m would be OK, it’s just if he can do it as fast as the others can.
“Matt is thinking about bringing him home for the Queensland Derby, so we would be over the moon if we can get into the placings on Saturday.
“We want to see him tick off the 2000m box on Saturday.
“If you take the favourite out (Wymark), the rest of us are probably around the same level.”
TAB has rated Texas Fireball a $15 chance on Saturday, with Wymark a $3.10 favourite ahead of Kintyre at $4.20.
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With around 90 horses on their books, victory on Saturday would mark one of Archer Park’s biggest victories as Wessel looks to gear up for a winter carnival.
“Our biggest win is in The Villiers (Crack Me Up, 2017), it was only worth $250,000 then, we thought we were millionaires when we won it, now it’s worth a few million,” Wessel laughed.
“We have a few of them rolling back in for the winter now, Golden Boom will be back at Tony’s (Gollan) soon and there are a few more two-year-olds coming out.”
Originally published as Texas Fireball can shoot into Queensland Derby calculations in Tulloch Stakes acid test
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