Victoria Derby runner-up Scary to resume in Saturday’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington

Victoria Derby runner-up Scary will embark on an Australian Guineas and Derby mission when he resumes in Saturday’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Victoria Derby runner-up Scary has three Group 1 races on his agenda in the autumn. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

A trip across the state formed part of Victoria Derby runner-up Scary’s preparation for what could be the richest preparation of his career.

Scary emerged as a staying talent in his first preparation, progressing from a Sale maiden win to a strong second in the spring staying feature in the space of four starts in the spring.

The son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking’s impressive campaign has left him with a rating that compelled Pakenham trainers David and Emma-Lee Browne to play for high stakes in the autumn.

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David Browne said Scary’s autumn preparation would start over 1400m in Saturday’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington before quickly getting tougher.

“We had to set him high because he has such a high handicap so he’ll run in the Hayes (Stakes), the Australian Guineas and probably the Rosehill Guineas,” Browne said.

“Then he can go to the Australian Derby.

“Because he’s that high in the handicaps, there’s nowhere really anywhere for him to go off to the side, he has to be among the good company.”

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While Scary has been in work at the Brownes’ Pakenham base, the trainers were keen to travel hundreds of kilometres to give the three-year-old his first jumpout at Camperdown last month.

“It’s just good to give them a look around somewhere else and get them out and about with a truck trip and they really enjoy it,” Browne said.

“I just think it’s good for their minds to take them away in the truck for a day.”

Scary could progress to the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby if his early autumn performances are up to expectations. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Scary won that jumpout before another solid third in a hitout at Pakenham ahead of his return to racing.

“His trial at Camperdown was very good and Ben Melham came and sat on him the other day and he was impressed with him,” Browne said.

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Browne said the colt’s jumpout efforts and trackwork showed he has progressed since his promising spring campaign.

“He has come on well,” Browne said.

“He hasn’t grown that much but he’s very strong and his head is very well.

“Hopefully he can take that next step now.”

The late Riff Rocket won the 2023 Victoria Derby before returning to win the CS Hayes Stakes first-up last year while Hitotsu won the 2022 Derby and 2023 Australian Guineas at consecutive starts.

Browne said trainers had tinkered with their approach to the Victoria Derby to give horses the chance to reproduce high-class performances in the autumn.

“I think the main thing with it is that people don’t press them too hard to run the trip and let them get there naturally and run out the trip in the Derby,” Browne said.

“Then they can back them up in the autumn.”

Originally published as Victoria Derby runner-up Scary to resume in Saturday’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington