Mithen eyeing Derby
LOCAL breeder Anthony Mithen admits he has one eye on the Group 1 Victoria Derby with promising stayer Thunderdome.
The talented three-year-old will contest the $120,000 Danny O’Brien Racing Pinchapoo Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield today before stepping up in class and distance ahead of the $1.5 million Derby on November 3.
Mithen, who fronts breeding and racing operation Rosemont Stud, said trainers Troy and Leon Corstens had a high opinion of the son of Hinchinbrook.
“He is progressive. We have sort of scratched our heads a little bit, he is by Hinchinbrook and Troy seems to think he might get the mile and a half of a Derby,” Mithen said.
“The plan was to go to the 1800m Derby trial at Flemington on Wednesday, but that race (at Caulfield) came up a bit short in numbers and quality.
“We thought we’d take a shot there and that leads to the 1800m UCI Stakes at Flemington and then we will map him from there to the Derby.
“He looks like he is going to relish the trip.”
Stephen Baster takes the ride on Thunderdome today from barrier four.
Thunderdome was bought by the Corstens stable at the 2017 Classic Yearling Sale for $62,500, with Mithen joining a number of other racing figures in the galloper.
“He is a bit of a fun horse. We didn’t breed him, we don’t own the mother or any of the family,” Mithen said.
“It was a pop up at the bar with a few mates that all said ‘Righto Troy, we should get one with you, let’s do it’. Between Nigel (Austin) and myself we took 20 per cent and put the colours on.
“In some ways I am glad he is a gelding because there is someone in the horse with a connection to China Horse Club, Newhaven Park Stud, Arrowfield Stud, Yarraman Park Stud, Rosemont Stud … that’s five, so we would have had a bugger of a time if he was a good horse and still a colt.”
MEANWHILE, Darren Weirtrained Iconoclasm had a minor throat operation following his distant eighth at Moonee Valley last start.
Mithen said Iconoclasm had recovered well and only missed a week of full work.
“He needed a little procedure done to release his epiglottis,” Mithen said
“We’ve had success in the past doing it and continuing on with the prep.
“We will probably now measure him up at the Flemington carnival. We were looking Caulfield, Rupert Clake, Toorak Handicap.
“Flemington probably makes more sense because he loves the track and has such a good record there.”