SHARP CAMELOT NEARING RETURN

Untapped stayer Russian Camelot took another step towards a Derby tilt with a head-turning jumpout at Flemington on Friday.

Although he was narrowly shaded by star colt Exceedance in the 800-metre gallop, Danny O'Brien's three-year-old tracked wide and powered through the line under jockey Damien Oliver.

O'Brien said Russian Camelot, a debut winner at Ballarat in October before a Stakes placing at Flemington during Melbourne Cup Week, could resume over 1400m at Flemington on Super Saturday.

While a tilt at the English Derby has been touted as an option for the son of Camelot, O'Brien said he was focused on preparing the colt for the South Australian Derby in May.

"Russian Camelot is a horse that has only had two starts so he's learning all the time but there's no doubt he's very talented," O'Brien said.

"Damien (Oliver) was happy with him but he still wanted to do a bit wrong.

"He accelerated nicely at the back end of it and he's a horse that will get better every time he does something.

"He'll kick off here and potentially end up in South Australia."

Story by James Tzaferis for Racing.com

Pic by Darryl Sherer