Talented youngster aimed at bigger targets

TALENTED youngster Art Regal continued his path to bigger targets with a stylish, yet upset, win at Globe Derby on Monday.

Despite racing in strong form, with a win and two placings from his four previous outings, Art Regal was among the outsiders at $41 for trainer Lance Holberton.

To the surprise of punters - but not Holberton - the son of Art Major upstaged his more fancied rivals over 1800 metres.

As such, Holberton will follow his plan of aiming Art Regal at the Southern Cross series.

Art Regal finished third behind Zebario and Splash Of Paynt during last season's Two-Year-Old Final.

The gelding was also third in the $50,000 Southern Star Final won by Victorian raider Let Her Roll.

"I thought he was overs, that's for sure," Holberton said. "He didn't have any luck in the heat, but his form didn't warrant him being that price.

"In the end it didn't matter. He got the run he needed and was able to make the most of it."

Driven by Holberton's son Joshua, Art Regal was pushed through from the inside of the second row to gain the perfect trip behind Dallas Dale, which led from the pole.

Finishing swiftly along the sprint lane, Art Regal scored by two-and-a-half metres from the pacemaker.

Clarenden Tribute was a metre-and-a-half away third in 1:58.1.

"He got the run we were hoping for and it all worked out for him," Holberton said. "I'll give him a week off now, then try for his Vicbred bonus as we work towards the Southern Cross in a couple of months."