Stephen Theodore has outlined ambitious Spring plans for talented three-year-old Road Trippin’ after he capped a double for the Cranbourne-based trainer at Caulfield today with his win in the $35,000 TMB Printing Handicap (1600m).

Fifth behind All Too Hard in the Group 1 BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October, Theodore nominated the $200,000 Listed TAB Cranbourne Cup (2025m) on October 13 as a likely target for the son of Charge Forward in the Spring.

“I ran him in a Caulfield Guineas, he ran third behind All Too Hard in a Sires Produce (1400m) as a two-year-old, he’s run fifth behind Pierro (Group 2 Stutt Stakes) so I’ve set him big tasks and he’s just starting to come into his own,” Theodore said.

“He’ll run again in a fortnight over 1800 metres and I’ve always said this horse will stay, he just hasn’t been given the opportunity.

“We’ve got pretty big ambitions for this horse, we’ll just take a deep breath but the Cranbourne Cup is a race that I’d like to set him for and I think he might even prove a little bit better than that.

“He’s been a terrific little money spinner, he cost me $21,000 and today’s win takes his career earnings to over $300,000.”

Settling in fifth position on the back of a strong early tempo, jockey Steven Arnold allowed Road Trippin’ ($8-$6.50) to stride into the race around the home turn before he raced to the lead alongside Infinite Energy ($4.40) at the top of the home straight.

Though Infinite Energy appeared to have the momentum on the outside with 250 metres left to travel, Road Trippin’ proved too strong over the final 200 metres, racing away to record a 2.5 length victory over Infinite Energy, with Done Nothin’ Wrong 3.8 lengths away from the winner in third.

A full-brother to Theodore’s ill-fated two-year-old Crack A Roadie, the Cranbourne-based trainer said he could even consider nominating Road Trippin’ for the BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m).

“A horse like him could cheat the handicapper in a race like the Toorak Handicap (1600m) or the Emirates Stakes (1600m) but we’ll just see how things unfold over the next couple of months,” he said.

“What happened to his full-brother was an absolute tragedy; this horse is owned in the same interests so you get a bit emotional considering what these guys have been through over the last two months.

“I also have the younger half-brother by Manhatten Rain who coast me $60,000 in the stable, this horse cost me $20,000, Crack A Roadie cost $40,000 and the next one cost $60,000 so it looks like I’m going to have to try and find $80,000 next year for the next one.”

Road Trippin’s victory gave Theodore a double after speedy sprinter Last Gift had earlier claimed the $35,000 Programmed Property Services Handicap (1000m).

Click here to view the full list of results for the TMB Printing Handicap or the rest of today’s Caulfield program