The gelding had it's first run at the distance in the H&NWRA qualifier - he'd previously only raced between 950m-1200m - and sprinted home from last to finish third behind Spiranac and Pure Feugo.

While those two horses move through to the final on April 3 at Royal Randwick, Depth That Varies will go to the Country Championships Wild Card in Muswellbrook on March 21 in search of a spot in the final.

"Yesterday's efforts showed he's not too far away," trainer Luke Morgan said.

Morgan said Depth That Varies "was probably at his peak" on Sunday in what was the gelding's fourth race since a spell. However, he said the gelding wouldn't be taking any backward steps as it continued its preparation.

"Wherever he goes next, he'll be competitive. He gives 110 per cent every time," Morgan said.

"It would have been good to run one-two. Unfortunately we ran third but we were all really happy with his effort.

"He's pulled up really well and we'll definitely go to the Wild Card. It's going to be a very strong race with horses like him that finished just outside the top two of every area."

As to who will ride at the Wild Card, Morgan said he'd leave that up to the owners.

Dylan Gibbons has had the most success with Depth That Varies and was booked to ride on Sunday but was dislodged from his horse just after the winning post in race four.

He was taken to hospital and Racing NSW reported he sustained soft tissue injuries and a laceration to his lip that needed four sutures.

"Dylan's got a good association with the horse and it would have been good to see him on but the main thing is Dylan escaped serious injury," Morgan said.

Morgan added: "It threw a real spanner in the works late in the day but I think Rachael [Murray] rode the horse really, really well."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: