Sydney Group 1 targets on the cards for Let'srollthedice

Trainer Danny O'Brien might have to look at flights to Sydney for Group 1 assignments after Let'srollthedice's strong win in the Group 2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).

Let’srollthedice ($3.70 fav) raced wide for most of the VRC Sires Produce Stakes but overpowered his rivals to stay unbeaten with a decisive effort.

The win gave O’Brien the option to take Let’srollthedice to Sydney for the last two legs of the two-year-old Triple Crown, the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce over 1400m and the Champagne Stakes over 1600m.

Sydney’s autumn rain would not worry Let’srollthedice.

What a win, and what a name! 😍 🎲🎲

🐎 Let'srollthedice triumphs across 1400m with @LaneDamian onboard! pic.twitter.com/On6U54C1jN

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 12, 2022

The youngster ploughed through wet ground to score on debut at Bendigo on March 1 but was equally at home on good ground in Saturday’s $300,000 race.

“We’ll get through today. He’s now a Group 2 winning colt but he did handle the Heavy 10 the other day so it would be tempting enough to look at the Sires’ or the Champagne there in Sydney,” O’Brien said.

The Dundeel breed often emerge as three-year-olds but O’Brien said Let’srollthedice had developed quicker than usual.

However, he said Let’srollthedice would continue to improve with maturity.

“He came through our system and obviously a Dundeel that we were never going to push,” O’Brien said.

“He had a trial or two in January and then went to Bendigo and did the job there. He’s only going to improve.”

Let'srollthedice is a Group 2 winner at just his second race start. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Jockey Damian Lane has been aboard for both of Let’srollthedice’s wins.

O’Brien said his stable was developing a profitable partnership with the Cox Plate-winning rider.

“No one is riding better than Damian at the moment,” O’Brien said.

“He just seems to be timing everything beautifully. Seven or eight winners from his last ten rides for us, so we’re very happy with how things are going.”

The Annabel Neasham-trained Man In The Mirror ($12) finished second, ahead of the $81 longshot Yak Ishi.