The John Sargent-trained Favreau will head to Flemington on Sunday to take his place in the Listed St Leger (2800m).

The Tavistock gelding finished sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick last start and Sargent has elected to press on for a Melbourne campaign following the way his charge pulled up after the three-year-old feature.

“We didn’t get the rub of the green in the Derby,” Sargent told SENTrack. “He drew the outside (16) and got back.

“We followed the winner and Tommy (Berry, jockey) thought he would get a jump on them, but it was probably the wrong thing to do. He made a very fast move down the side of the track and it’s hard to ask a horse to take off from 800m in a Derby and win.

“He has come through it that well I said to Duncan Ramage, who manages the horse, that a run at Flemington now while he is up and going would be ideal for him come next season because I think he will be a very good stayer in the making and a trip down to Melbourne will make him.

“When Damien Oliver phoned up for the ride and suggested the race I thought there was no reason why we shouldn’t go.

“He will just go to sleep and I am sure Damien will just work him into the clear somewhere in the straight. He does have a turn of foot and looks as good now as he did going into the Derby and his blood is perfect.

“I expect a good run from him down there on Sunday.”

All going well, Favreau could press on for a tilt at another Derby.

“There is the option of the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) two weeks later, but we will just play it by ear and see what Damien says,” Sargent said.

Favreau was purchased out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2019 Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $230,000 by Sargent in partnership with Aquis Farm and DGR Thoroughbreds.

– NZ Racing Desk