Honey Steel’s Gold is on-course for the G1 South Australian Derby after winning the Mistable Hcp (1800m) at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

The son of Greta West Stud sire Keep The Faith was racing second-up after a spring campaign that closed out with a midfield finish in the G1 Victoria Derby.

Honey Steel’s Gold (3g Keep The Faith – Lunar Lights by Bianconi) was given a classic preparation by trainer David Hayes after scoring a Listed victory in the Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington last July.

Stable representative Tom Dabernig said the South Australian Derby on May 3 was a likely target after his short half-head victory over Varboss (Street Boss).  “He had a reasonably tough preparation last time,” Dabernig said.  “But he looks to have come back and he will stay.”

Keep The Faith (Sunday Silence) was trained out of Lindsay Park for a Listed victory in the Schweppervescence Cup (1600m) at Caulfield.  He transferred to North America and broke their 1200 metre national record clocking 1.06.82s in New York.

Honey Steel’s Gold is a homebred for John & Michelle Valmorbida and is the first foal of Lunar Lights who was a 2010 metre maiden winner at Wangaratta in October 2008.

Keep The Faith is a Top 10 sire in Victoria with 48 winners of 68 races for prizemoney over $1.50 million since August 1.  His chief earner this season is VOBIS Gold star Trust In A Gust with $389,600.