John Bary knows The Hombre is on the verge of growing into a man.
The Hawkes Bay trainer is hoping it will be during Saturday's A$125,000 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben. Bary has the talented 3-year-old emerging stayer in Brisbane with the Queensland Derby as his main mission.
The Hombre
had his first start beyond 1600m at Te Rapa last Saturday week and finished a great second to hotshot Time Keeper, making significant ground on the winner in the closing strides.
Rider Jonathan Riddell told Bary after the race the coin hasn't dropped properly into the slot in the horse's brain yet.
"Jonathan said halfway down the straight the horse knew he had those behind him beaten then suddenly said to himself: 'Oh, there's another horse three lengths in front we'd better do something about him.'
"It's about to all fall into place for him and it'd be nice if it happened this weekend before he goes into the Derby."
Riddell arrived in Brisbane on Monday and rode The Hombre in gallop at Doomben on Tuesday in company with the John Sargent-trained She Kin Fly.
"They worked nicely together on the course proper, running the last 600m in 36, hard held," said Bary.
"I couldn't be happier with him. He's settled in well and he's eating his head off. He's eating more than he's ever eaten at home."
Bary knows The Hombre is on the right flight path to his best form, arriving in Australia on the up with only two New Zealand starts this preparation.
"I was very pleased with the Te Rapa run because that track wasn't really to his liking. He's a big horse and he doesn't like anything moving under his feet. I was delighted with the way he settled and dropped the bit early in his first start at 2000m.
"Jonathan said he just cruised around beautifully."
She Kin Fly will run in Saturday's A$100,000 Chairman's Handicap, along with fellow Kiwis Gallions Reach, Castle Heights and Calatrava.
