New Zealand-bred gelding Caboche was a placegetter in last year’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), and a return to that distance paved his way to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s A$130,000 IMMIX, Metal Recycled Right Handicap (2400m) at Bendigo.

Third behind fellow Kiwi-breds Pinarello and Paternal in the Derby at Eagle Farm in May of last year, Caboche had faded from prominence with only two placings from eight starts since.

But after starting his latest preparation with three runs in Sydney over 1600m, 2000m and 1900m, trainer Chris Waller stepped Caboche back up to the Derby distance at Bendigo on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Vadamos responded with a vastly improved performance and an emphatic win.

After settling in third place, jockey Daniel Stackhouse drove Caboche to the front at the 300-metre mark and quickly put the result beyond any doubt. Caboche stretched out strongly down the straight and reached the finish line with a margin of a length and three-quarters up his sleeve.

“He’d had some very nice runs up in Sydney and was placed very well here by the team, stepping up to 2400m,” Stackhouse said.

“I just wanted to make sure he stepped well out of the barriers, because he can fall out and get into an awkward position, but today it worked out super.

“The speed was nice and I just wanted to give myself the option to get off that rail. I was lucky the Paddy Payne horse (Sing For Peace) was struggling by that time, and I was able to get off the fence and work into it. He was just too good in the end.

“The horse is going super. He was very convincing in this win. He could have gone another lap and has pulled up very well. They’re very good at how they place their horses.”

Caboche was bred by Nearco Stud Limited and is out of the Listed-winning More Than Ready mare Floramour. All of Floramour’s six named foals have been winners, headed by Group Three winner Manolo Blahniq.

Caboche was purchased out of Curraghmore’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for $180,000. From 20 starts, Caboche has now recorded three wins, six placings and A$354,425 in stakes.