Two Group One assignments are on next year’s programme for No Fuss Gus.

The promising three-year-old has impressed in a brief career and his last-start run for third in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes at Otaki provided another positive pointer for future age group tests.

“He had a tough run and it probably didn’t help him having an 800 metre gallop after the false start,” said Nick Fairweather, racing manager for trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard.

“All credit to the horse, he could have been forgiven for dropping off at the top of the straight, but he ran home really strongly.”

A son of Savabeel, No Fuss Gus has been nominated for the Gr.1 Randwick Meats Levin Classic at Trentham on January 14 and the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 4.

“He’s come through his last race really well and he’ll probably head toward the Levin Classic and then a little break before one or two lead-up runs to the Derby,” Fairweather said.

“He’s a very relaxed horse and the way he travels in his races we don’t think he’ll have any trouble in getting over a bit more ground.”

No Fuss Gus was a debut winner at Pukekohe Park in October before he finished fourth behind the unbeaten stakes winner Volpe Veloce at Tauranga.

“We expected him to go well in his first start, but to win over 1200 metres was a bit of a surprise,” Fairweather said.

“He was quite weak as a two-year-old and he has really matured now.”