Three-time Derby winner Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will move closer to a spring return after a jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday.

The son of Jakkalberry has been pencilled in to return in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 11, with trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace pleased with how the gelding had come through a gruelling three-year-old season.

“He galloped last Tuesday and will jump-out on Monday at Cranbourne and then he’ll go to the Makybe Diva first-up,” Eustace said.

“His action is great. He did plenty at the beach leading in up at Newcastle.

“Everything went nice and smooth.

“Keeping him in the warmer climate helped and we were able to get some really good miles into the legs without doing too much galloping, and that really suits.”

Explosive Jack won three Derbys during the year – in Tasmania, Sydney and Adelaide – and has not been seen since finishing third in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) in June.

Explosive Jack was purchased out of Novara Park’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Moody Racing for $100,000.