Staying potential on show

Big things could be in store for lightly raced three-year-old Skulduggery after he proved too good for his rivals in his maiden victory yesterday at Bendigo.

Trainer Danny O'Brien was thrilled with the Krupt gelding's strong win yesterday at the "Nursery of Champions" and said he couldn't wait for his charge to get out over a staying trip.

"He has shown in his past two races that he can relax in his races and then finish with a strong burst and I think he will be even better suited up in trip." O'Brien said.

Jockey Ryan Maloney said the "penny was yet to drop" for the chestnut veteran of just four starts, but when it does "look out".

"He still doesn't know what to do, but he toyed with them today and not everything went his way so there is a good future ahead for this bloke," Maloney said.

Skulduggery was odds-on favourite in the race and he ended up settled back in what was a slowly run race on a day that had suited on-pace runners.

"His effort was very good and it was great to see him back-up his strong second placing at his start before," O'Brien said.

O'Brien has one eye on the Autumn three-year-old staying features, but said the son of Krupt will come to town for his next start, which was likely to be against his own age group in a 1600m Benchmark 64 at Sandown on December 30.

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