Lightly raced Warrnambool galloper Aggressive heads to Darwin this week with the Northern Territory Derby on the radar.
Aggressive was unplaced behind stablemate Squander in a benchmark race over 2000 metres at Casterton on Sunday but the run pleased trainer Aaron Purcell.
“The pace was really on and I don’t think it really suited his racing style,” Purcell said. 
“I’ve had the NT Derby on my mind for him for a few months. I think he’s a genuine type of stayer. We’ll probably run him in the Guineas first.”
Purcell said he was surprised by the win of Squander, who started at $9.50.
“We’ve always thought she needs dry tracks,” he said. “The track (rated a heavy 8) was wet in the back straight but it was drier in the home straight, which she really appreciated.”
From her 23 starts Squander has won four races, while Aggressive has won one from 11.
Idol to skip Thackeray
Ciaron Maher will bypass this month’s Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool with star jumper Stern Idol.
Maher plans to skip the June 28 event and run nStern Idol in the $80,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase at Hamilton on Sunday July 12 then the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase at Ballarat on Sunday August 2. Both races are run at set weights and penalties. 
Most recently Stern Idol lumped 76.5 kilograms into third behind Sing For Peace in the Australian Steeplechase at Sandown last month. Prior to that he won the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool on Tuesday May 5.
“The handicapper would have given him the grandstand in the Thackeray,” Maher said. “He pulled up well (after the Australian Steeplechase). We’ll just keep on ticking him over until the Mosstrooper.”
Back to work
Promising galloper Oliveanotherday was due to return to Tom Dabernig’s Warrnambool stables this week.
Dabernig gave Oliveanotherday a month’s break after his impressive victory in the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool on Wednesday May 6.
“He deserved a break,” Dabernig said. “I went and saw him in the paddock and he’s in great order. We’ll get him ready to run in Melbourne in September with some of the early spring sprint races on the radar.”
Meanwhile, Dabernig was delighted with the maiden win of One Bound at Casterton last Sunday.
“She’s a nice type of filly,” he said. “It was a wonderful result for the owners as they bred her. 
“With a bit of time I think she might develop into a handy mare and in the future she’ll make a nice broodmare.”
The $2.50 favourite picked up $17,600 for Sunday’s win, which came at her fourth start.
Black-booker
• Flying Done: prepared to forget last Saturday’s run in a 1600-metre three-year-olds’ race at Flemington. The gelding featured in the stewards’ report and is definitely one to watch in the future.