Newlands looms as Gray's Derby aspirant

Trainer Stephen Gray was impressed with the way his emerging horse NEWLANDS overcame a lacklustre jump to eventually take the $60,000 Super Easy 2012 Stakes race over 1,600m in convincing style on Sunday.

"I was a little worried when he jumped relaxed and was caught wide," said the New Zealand conditioner.

"But he can really stay, just like his half-brother Twickenham and that other smart full-brother Steven Burridge had, Black Ice.

"The (Singapore) Gold Cup may come a little too soon for him as, although he is a four-year-old, he is still a little immature, mentally and physically.

"He won very well today and will go through his grades. He could be my Derby horse next year, but as he's only a Class 4 horse now, we will keep our feet on the ground."