‘Machine’ in tune for autumn campaign

IMPRESSIVE Sandown Guineas winner Villermont will be aimed at next year’s Australian Guineas after a slashing performance to win the Group 2 race at only his fourth start.

A long-range plan to give the son of All Too Hard a light spring in the belief he would be much more mature in autumn came to fruition when the Aaron Purcell-trained colt stormed home to salute in the $250,000 race.

Villermont only had his first start – also at Sandown – in September, but a strong maiden win at Benalla later that month and a luckless fourth at Caulfield in October gave Purcell and the owners, including Rupert Legh and Neil Werrett, confidence he would win yesterday’s race.

“He is a very well-bred horse ... he works like a machine,” Purcell said.

“He is definitely going to be a better horse in the autumn.

“We deliberately planned to give him a light spring.

“We are going to give him a break now and aim him at the stronger three-year-old races in the autumn.

“He has taken a while to grow into himself. He is still probably a preparation away. He might get further later on, but the Australian Guineas (1600m) will be the target at this stage.”

Villermont ($7.50) settled last and was still there at the 400m but stormed home to defeat Peaceful State ($9.50), with Purcell’s other horse Black Sail ($9) in third place.

Consistent mare Payroll was also a big finisher on the day, running down Kidmenever in the last stride to win the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes.

The five-year-old mare, trained by Richard Laming, missed a start in the Myer Classic but was twice placed at Flemington when third in the Blazer and second in the Matriarch Stakes.