Shepparton born trainer Liam Howley will be hoping Saturday’s meet at Moonee Valley was a sign of things to come this spring, as he delivered his first metro winner of the new season with three-year-old colt Virtuoso Circle.
Resuming after a 16-week spell, the galloper presented as a $26 chance in the 1500m Hugh Wallace-Smith handicap.
After showing great signs in the autumn with a victory at Mornington at his last start on March 26, this race at the Valley presented as a fantastic opportunity for the three-year-old to announce himself as a rising contender as spring quickly approaches.
But faced with a tough field, which included $2.90 favourite Proscenium Arch and Patrick Payne-trained Castillian ($4.80), it certainly wouldn’t be easy for him first up.
Settling towards the back of the field, jockey Blaike McDougall placed himself ominously leading into the short straight at the Valley.
Given plenty of room on the inside as the field turned for home, Virtuoso Circle turned on the jets, using the space to quickly move up to the leaders Castillian, Mr Maestro and Proscenium Arch as the quartet lunged to the line.
But the momentum of the Howley-trained horse would give it the all important edge, prevailing by 0.1 lengths in a thrilling photo finish.
A wonderful result for Howley as he continues to build his rising stable, he said post-race the victory was a sign of things to come for the impressive colt.
“I think they might have been pricing the trainer more than the horse to be honest,” Howley told Racing.com
“He is certainly a colt on the up and internally we thought he was going super, so it was great to see him get the job done here today.”
The beginning of Virtuoso Circle’s second preparation, Howley said he saw fantastic growth out of the three-year-old through the winter months and expected a strong run.
“He came back in super, first preparation was every time we raised the bar it was is he going to get there, but this time around he has ticked every box along the way,” he said.
“He keeps telling us that he’s ready for it and hopefully now there is a big spring ahead of him.”
When it comes to the spring, Howley said he had a few target races in mind.
“I’d like to think he’s a (Caulfield) Guineas horse, but otherwise I thought 2000m might be in his hitting zone. Maybe 2400m, so maybe he’s a Derby horse,” he said.
"Mentally he is (ready), but we will space his runs and run next in the Stutt (Stakes) back here in four weeks.
"That gives us time to look after him. That gives us two weeks to the Guineas and gives us a read at that point whether he’s a Guineas horse or we go to the Vase (2040m).
"Hopefully we are still knocking around in late October."