Governor heading for southern raid

RISING star Governor Jujon will continue to head south.

Sent across to the border for yesterday’s Simpson Memorial at Tabcorp Park Menangle, the Queensland youngster is bound for Victoria.

Trainer Grant Dixon confirmed his plans with the colt earlier today, with Governor Jujon being aimed at the Victoria Derby.

Heats of the Blue Riband are scheduled to be conducted on January 18 – Ballarat Cup night – with the Final in Melton the following week.

Dixon is no stranger to success in the classic, having captured the Derby with Colt Thirty One in 2018.

“He will press on to Victoria now for the Derby,” Dixon said. “I had the Derby in mind for him, but a lot depended on how he went in Menangle.

“I was very happy with his run, so now it’s on to the Derby heats in a couple of weeks.

“It will be a big test for him, but he is a nice type and it will be interesting to see how he measures up.”

Driven by local reinsman Rob Morris, Governor Jujon led throughout from the pole to complete an easy six-and-a-half metre win from Mach Da Vinci, with Smooth Baht a metre-and-a-half away third.

Covering the mile in 1:53.8, the three-year-old stretched his record to seven wins and two seconds from nine starts for owner John Mammino.