Racing: Cabeza may be up to cup company

MELBOURNE - Connections of impressive Flemington winner Cabeza will be looking to build his rating in the coming weeks as trainer Danny O'Brien eyes the major races next spring with the Zabeel gelding.

After breaking Rangirangdoo's 1600m course record at Moonee Valley with a barnstorming finish last start, the 4-year-old raced on the pace to take out a win in Saturday's Life Saving Victoria Plate (1720m).

Ridden by Jason Maskiell, Cabeza always looked to be travelling easily in second place and romped clear in the home straight to score by 2 lengths from Kert with Down Under Boy a length away third.

O'Brien said Cabeza was a progressive horse and similar to past stable stars Vigor, who was third to Viewed in the 2009 Caulfield Cup; and 2008 Moonee Valley Cup winner Gallopin, who also contested the Melbourne Cup.

"I would hope he is a spring-quality horse and over the next month we will try and get his rating up and try him again at a mile and a half," O'Brien said.

Cabeza has won four of his 14 starts but his record might have been more impressive had he been gelded earlier in his career.

He said he wasted a Brisbane winter campaign, which included a failure in the Queensland Derby but was now a more focused and tractable horse.

"In Queensland, he was doing everything wrong so we cut him and gave him a long break over the spring," O'Brien said.

Cabeza has finished in the top four at his four starts this campaign and his Moonee Valley win triggered stable excitement.

He said Cabeza would have his next run over 2000m at Caulfield on February 5.

- AAP