OUTSTANDING youngster Artillery faces a daunting task at Globe Derby on Saturday night.
Winner of his two starts since returning from a spell, Artillery will be pitted against numerous in-form older rivals.
Despite the magnitude of the pending assignment, trainer Paul Cavallaro is confident the three-year-old can complete a hat-trick.
“I couldn’t be happier with his two runs this time in,” Cavallaro said. “Really, I couldn’t ask for much more from him from the time he made his debut.
“Saturday night will be a test for him, but he’s in terrific shape and has drawn well enough to make a good fist of it.
“Half the field have wins in their last few starts and every runner has been among the placings of late, so the form is solid.
“It will be a good test for him.”
Drawn to go forward from barrier four, the son of Art Major is listed as the second elect at $3.20.
Delightful GNP is the $2 favourite after drawing the pole for trainer Heather Stevens, with Gordon Girl on the third line of betting at $3.50 from gate nine.
“Like I said, he will certainly know he’s in a race,” Cavallaro said. “Delightful GNP has the form on the board and is certainly the one to beat from the draw.”
With the Southern Cross Artillery’s primary target for the season, Cavallaro plans to give the gelding “another start or two” before sending him for a short let-up.
“The Southern Cross is still a while away so I will give him another start or two then freshen him up for that,” Cavallaro said.
“That will give me time to get another couple of runs into him before the Southern Cross begins.
“I also want to get him over the border to try and win his Vicbred bonus, but with the restrictions it hasn’t been possible.
“Hopefully that can happen before the year is out.”
