Viridine looking the part in G1 Darley Goodwood

Classy colt Viridine is primed to produce a peak performance when he makes his first appearance against older horses at G1 level in Saturday’s Darley Goodwood at Morphettville, South Australia.

The three-year-old son of Poet’s Voice comes into the A$1m race off a third placing at his latest run when he was beaten less than a half-length from the winner in the G2 Euclase Stakes.

“He’s come out of that race in very good order, in fact, he’s been marching around feeling very good about himself for the past couple of weeks,” said trainer James Cummings.

“He galloped beautifully on the course proper at Morphettville on Tuesday morning and he’ll be going to the Goodwood in top order.”

Cummings acknowledges that, as a three-year-old racing in open company, a lot is being asked of Viridine (Regan Bayliss) to carry 55.5kg.

“Even though he’s not well off under the conditions of the race, he’ll get there in very, very good shape and in a condition that’s going to see him perform adequately again at G1 level,” he said.

“If he can find a couple of lengths on his first performance left-handed then I think he’s a knockout chance in this race.

“He’s certainly fit and has the class to be right there with them, and I think he’ll be parading as one of the picks in the yard.”

Viridine revealed himself to be a well above-average colt by winning his first four starts.

That form earned him a start in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes over the Flemington straight course last spring where he was disadvantaged by gate one, but still finished a fine fifth.

This time around, Viridine has run well in strong races, with his last run the best for the campaign.

With the top-level sprinters in Brisbane he gets his chance against a good, even field, despite drawing the outside of the 20-runner field.

The locally-trained Viddora, a G1 second in the Moir Stakes in Melbourne last spring, shapes as one of the hardest to beat, along with the topweight Vega Magic.