No doubt about Derby
THE sky could be the limit for Victorian-owned colt Civil Disobedience following his effortless win in the $150,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby over 2200m at Elwick yesterday.
The Darren Weir-trained three-year-old toyed with his rivals in the home straight, defeating stablemate Wolfendale by more than three lengths, with Tasmanian pair Pennstock a distant third, narrowly ahead of Double You Tee.
Earlier in the race Kugelblitz, ridden by Damien Oliver, took the lead as Civil Disobedience ($1.40 favourite), with Irish-born jockey John Allen aboard, settled in third. Wolfendale trailed him to the home turn and loomed to challenge but when Allen called on his colt to extend he quickly put the result beyond doubt.
“This is a very exciting colt and I’m sure he has a great future as a stayer,” Allen said.
“I’ve ridden him in most of his races this preparation and he continues to learn and improve and today he just played with the opposition.”
Civil Disobedience (Raise The Flag-Pernote) has about 30 owners, including two syndicates of 10, while managing owner John Costigan, who bought the colt in New Zealand, retains a 25 per cent share.
“We have been excited about this colt from day one and Darren [Weir] has high expectations,” Costigan said. “The plan was to look at either the South Australian Derby or the New Zealand Derby [on March 3] but after today’s effort I’m fairly confident Darren will be more inclined to take him to New Zealand.” SOUTH AUSTRALIAN mare Gogo Grace ($4.40) also could not have been more impressive in winning the Group 3 $150,000 Bow Mistress Trophy over 1200m.
The Leon Macdonaldtrained mare settled midfield with Dean Yendall aboard and when he eased her wide to make her charge at the top of the home straight she went on brilliantly to score by 4.5 lengths.
Gogo Grace defeated outsider Tizso Wicked ($81) and Deja Blue ($3.80), with Jocasta ($21) a close-up fourth to make it an all-interstate finish. The favourite, Tasmanian mare Gee Gee Double Dee ($3.10), finished fifth after being held up on the rails most of the way up the home straight.
Macdonald was thrilled with the win.
“I sent this mare over early so she could settle in before the race and having her nice and fresh has paid dividends,” said Macdonald, who co-trains the mare at Morphettville with his son-in-law Andrew Gluyas. “Her main mission was always the Vamos Stakes in Launceston over 1400m in a fortnight, so winning this Group 3 race along the way is a great bonus.”
The pre-race favourite Life on the Wire from the Scott Brunton stable had to be withdrawn when she arrived at the track with swelling in her off front pastern as a result of a mishap when being unloaded.