Victoria Derby Plans For Tribunal

Astute Melbourne trainer Mick Price outlined Victoria Derby plans for progressive Encosta de Lago colt Tribunal after he scored a stylish victory at Sandown on Wednesday.

Having just his third race start and stepping up to metropolitan company following an easy maiden win at Sale on August 20, the Rockmount pretrainer settled midfield for apprentice rider Jason Maskiell, before powering to the line between horses to post an eye catching win in the 1500 metre Ratings 68 event.

“We believe he’s a VRC Derby horse and today was all about teaching him to relax and learn to compete as a racehorse as he’s still a big kid really,” said Price.

“He’s a very handsome horse and we have a good opinion of him.

“His half-sister Demerger won an Adelaide Cup, so the Derby is where we’re heading with him.”

A homebred for Bob and Rosemary Scarborough and their Wood Nook Farm, Tribunal was offered at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on their behalf by Amarina Farm but passed in shy of his $300,000 reserve, so was retained to race.

He is the seventh foal of the Centaine mare Triattica, who was purchased by Wood Nook Farm for $575,000 from the Inglis conducted Vinery Dispersal in 2005.

A proven stakes producer as the dam of Group One SAJC Adelaide Cup winner Demerger and stakes-placed Rash Promise, Triattica comes from the family of Group One stars Triscay, Defier and La Baraka.