Derby hope weathers storm
GEELONG Classic winner Weather With You is a VRC Derby contender after a gear change helped sharpen the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained stayer.
Unplaced runs at Flemington had left the New Zealand trainers scratching their heads after they brought the three-year-old to Australia with high hopes.
The Derby had been front of mind since the son of Teofilo finished second at Ellerslie in a Listed 1600m race in April, but his runs in Australia had left a bit to be desired.
“We were very worried about his form be- fore today, he hadn’t lived up to what we hoped he would do,” Forsman told the Geelong Advertiser.
“He had just become very casual in his races, would get back and lob along and wasn’t really finding the line at all, so the blinkers helped and obviously a good barrier draw helped today too.
“He was still a maiden when we brought him here (to Australia), but everything about him said he’d make a nice stayer so we thought we’d have a crack.”
A second at Sandown over 1400m showcased a nice return to racing, but two 1800m runs at Flemington saw him four or five lengths off early Derby favourites Tavistock Abbey and Main Stage.
But the sharp improvement at Geelong makes him a great chance to replicate what former Chris Waller galloper Preferement achieved two years ago — the Geelong Classic/VRC Derby double.
“He came over pretty backward — he had a long hairy coat and in still looked that way a few weeks ago; the early Melbourne weather wasn’t that warm, so he’s really come good in the last few weeks,” Forsman said.
“Everything about him from day one (said he’d be a Derby horse). He’s got a big action, bred to run the trip, he ran second in a Listed race over the mile as a two-year-old and I think then we targeted here.”
Baker has a terrific record training young stayers.
In 2008, he trained Nom De Jou to ATC Derby victory, and two years later, Lion Tamer saluted in the Victorian Derby.
Baker also trained champion three-yearold Dundeel, who won the 2013 ATC Derby, Mongolian Khan, who won New Zealand and ATC derbies as well as a Caulfield Cup, and Bonneval in this year’s New Zealand Oaks.
While jockey Mark Zahra is yet to lock away a Derby ride, the experienced hoop said Weather With You would “definitely be the front runner” for his services.