Trainer Danny O’Brien is expecting the 2040m of the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes at The Valley on Saturday to suit Gr.1 Australian Derby (24000m) candidate Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock).

The Danny O’Brien-trained three-year-old has been comfortably held in his two starts back following his third placing in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last spring, but the Flemington-based trainer says the gelding is looking for Saturday’s journey.

Young Werther finished a first-up seventh behind Poland (So You Think) in the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 6 before running fifth to Parure (Fastnet Rock) in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield two weeks later.

Providing Young Werther runs well enough on Saturday he is likely to head to Sydney to run in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 27 ahead of the Australian Derby at Randwick the following week.

“He’s been building,” O’Brien said.

“He wasn’t bad the other day. He was on and off the bridle throughout the race then his last 100m was terrific.

“Getting to 2040m on Saturday is going to be a big positive for him.

“He’d need to win or fight it out with Cherry Tortoni to justify going to Sydney, otherwise we can go to Adelaide.”

O’Brien won last year’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m), run in May, with Russian Camelot (Camelot).

Young Werther is still learning his racing craft and will be lining up for just his sixth start on Saturday. After winning at Geelong on debut over 1500m Young Werther contested the Victoria Derby, finishing third to Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) and Hit The Shot (Dundeel) at his third race appearance.