Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Explosive Jack was beaten at his previous run when finishing second in the $135,000 St Leger Trial at Bendigo and the horse that finished in front of him, Liqueuro franked the form by winning the Listed MRC Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sent out a hot favourite, the Cindy Alderson trained gelding led all the way for Jye McNeil under 59kg to score by three-quarters of length in a tough staying performance.
Still in his first preparation, Liqueuro won his debut at Monrington on New Year’s Day and has the impressive record of four wins from five starts with prizemoney in excess of $300,000.
The Group I South Australian Derby may be a possibility, but the original plan for Liqueuro was to target the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day.
"I don't know how many runs he's got left in him because he's quite a lightly framed horse and it's his first preparation," Alderson said.
"Winners keep winning and he seems to be doing that. He's making his own luck and he's got a great set of lungs on him, so he keeps on going.
"It is really exciting and I still think the best is yet to come.
"He reminds me very much of (Caulfield Cup winner) Sky Heights in his early three-year-old year.
"I'm not saying he's Sky Heights but he has that frame and when Sky Heights filled out, he was a really strong stayer."
Retained to race after passing in shy of a $30,000 reserve at the Adelaide Magic Millions, Liqueuro is the first winner from four foals to race from Galileo (IRE) mare Little Darring, who comes from the family of Group I winners Prince Salieri and Mr Celebrity.
Liqueuro is the sixth stakes-winner for Melbourne Cup winning sire Fiorente (IRE), who stands at Widden Stud Victoria this spring as part of the previous Sun Stud roster of stallions.
