A colt related to trainer Matt Laurie's two best-performed horses will get a crack at a Group One race early in his career in the Champagne Stakes in Sydney.
Aberro will run in Saturday's $500,000 1600m-feature for two-year-olds at Randwick at just his third start after seconds in a Pakenham maiden and the Mornington Sires.
By All Too Hard out of Secret Cause, Aberro is a three-quarter brother to 2013 Group One South Australian Derby winner Escado and a half-brother to Se Sauver, winner of the 2013 Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes.
"It's usually a small field and worth a lot of money," Laurie said.
"Our horse has come through his only two runs really well and I think the mile looks like it would really suit him.
"I'm happy to put him in it and see where we stand but also acknowledge he's going to be a lot better next time around.
"I don't think we've got anything to lose."
The Victorian trainer took Aberro to Canberra last Friday for a barrier trial in the clockwise direction, believing he would take more from that experience than a trackwork gallop.
Aberro won his 900m heat against three unraced horses.
"I would have liked there to have been some more experienced horses in there to give him a chance to settle a little bit and finish off," Laurie said.
"He was up against horses who hadn't had the experience that he's had and he ended up controlling it, but it was just a nice, soft trial."
Aberro is scheduled to gallop again in Canberra on Tuesday before making his way to Sydney for the Champagne which has attracted 15 nominations.
Sires' Produce Stakes winner Invader is the $2.30 favourite ahead of Golden Slipper runner-up Frolic at $4.60 with Aberro a $26 chance.
While Escado raced as a gelding, Aberro will get his chance to make an impression as a colt.
"Given he's related to two Group winners, obviously we'll give him an opportunity as a colt to put his hand up," Laurie said.
"If he's not able to do that, he'll be gelded.
"But if he was to win a Group One, he's certainly got a good enough pedigree to stand somewhere for sure."