EXCITES gelding Scream Machine catapulted himself into Queensland Derby contention with a swashbuckling come from behind win in yesterday’s Evans And Partners Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill.
The Jason Coyle trained galloper did a remarkable job to post his second metro win given that he was stepping straight from 1400m to ten furlongs and rising considerably in grade for good measure.
Scream Machine first announced himself a horse of potential when finishing like a train to win at Canterbury earlier in January.
Coyle, who has trained city winners for the last three consecutive Saturday’s, was naturally delighted with Scream Machine’s Rosehill performance.
“Stepping up to 2000m today was ideal for him,” Coyle said,”we’ll have a look at the Derby now in two weeks time for him. He’s that sort of horse. I think he still had a bit of freshness in his legs today but hopefully that will knock it out of him and the step up to 2400m will be no dramas at all.
“The main thing about the horse, he’s just got to learn to relax.”
Scream Machine, like WA stakeswinner Flag Officer and speedy Queensland miss Amber’s Crown, is a member of Excites’ first crop.
