Strapping colt All Decked Out (NZ) has emerged as a potential contender for spring three-year-old honours with a commanding first-up win at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The well-bred youngster is expected to derive significant benefit from his debut outing in the Cecconi 2YO Challenge (1200m).  The Oaks Stud homebred is a son of Darci Brahma and Group 3 winner Diamond Deck (Octagonal) who is a three-quarter sister to Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro (Octagonal).

All Decked Out was into his work early from a wide gate to sit outside the leader and was in front at the top of the straight.  Once rider Matt Cameron gave the colt a cut behind the saddle, he lengthened and strode clear.

Trainer Jason Bridgman said the youngster would improve with the experience and, given his pedigree and impressive appearance, the stable was confident they had a major spring player on its hands.  “He’s pretty good,” Bridgman said.  “He raced a little green so we might give him a brief freshen-up and bide our time till the spring.”

The Dead 6 track provided the colt with suitable footing, something he missed in preparatory trials according to Bridgman.  “He didn’t handle the wet ground in his last two trials,” he said.  “We took him to Avondale last time out just to give him experience right-handed.”