17 Mar 2020Group One hopes for Cambridge Stud bred Playoffs gained further momentum at Ladbrokes Park this afternoon.
The son of Tavistock beat the older horses over 1600 metres for the second win of his four-start career.
He is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who believe the best is still very much yet to come.
Playoffs kept the leaders within his sights over 1600 metres and came with a well-timed run to score with ease.
“He was quite impressive and the boss has been on the phone to say he’ll push on to a Derby,” stable representative Lucy Yeomans said.
“I’m not sure which one, they will decide that. As a colt he did a lot wrong and now he’s two for two as a gelding.
“He’s been at the Ballarat stable and full credit to them for the job they’ve done and it was a 10 out of 10 ride.”
Successful rider John Allen was full of praise for Playoffs' effort.
“He traveled nicely and quickened up well,” he said.
“When he got into the open he was always going to be hard to beat.
“He’s definitely improved a lot from last preparation when I rode him as a colt.”
Playoffs was bought out of Cambridge Stud’s 2018 Karaka draft by Jonathan Munz’s bloodstock manager Dean Hawthorne for $230,000.
He is a son of the Zabeel mare Lazaan, who has produced two multiple winners including the Group Three performer Divine Power.
Lazaan, a daughter of the multiple Group One winner Lashed, has an Almanzor colt at foot.
Cambridge Stud sold a brother to Playoffs at Karaka earlier this year to Hong Kong interests for $250,000.