Deroche deals to rivals
ONE of last season’s top twoyear-olds Deroche signalled a warning to other 3YO Cup contenders when she won a trial in Devonport by 15 lengths yesterday and clocked a sizzling 47 seconds over the 800-metre trip.
It was the best time recorded over the distance since Arenzano and Rebel Bride each covered the 800 metres in 47.06 in trials when they were in the prime of their racing careers.
Deroche, formerly with Barry Campbell but now in the care of Leanne Gaffney, has not raced since she won the $50,000 Armidale Stud Tasbred 2YO Classic (1220m) in Launceston in May.
The filly was expected to win the trial but not with such ease and by such a big margin.
“That was exactly what we were hoping for, but we probably weren’t expecting her to run that sort of time,” Gaffney said.
“The filly has been working extra well at home and on the training track but for her to deliver that in a trial was very pleasing.
“She has been in work a while and needed a solid hitout before next week’s 3YO Cup.”
Craig Newitt rode the filly and he was ecstatic after the trial. “We wanted to give her a good hitout today and she got that, even through I never pushed her right out the last little bit,” Newitt said.
“I’ve always believed this filly will be at her best when she can race off the speed with cover because she has such a brilliant turn of foot and if we get that sort of run in the 3YO Cup, I can’t see anything beating her.
“Even if she draws to lead and we take that avenue she will still probably have too much class for them.”
Deroche has had six starts for four wins and two minor placings last season for $161,000 in stakes.
But given the way she went about winning yesterday’s trial the sky could be the limit for the daughter of Needs Further. The Bill Ryan-trained Still A Star resumed racing with an effortless win in a 3YO handicap over 1100m in Launceston two weeks ago, so she looks to be a logical danger along with the highly promising Galenus, from the Scott Brunton stable.
The $75,000 3YO Cup is a feature on next weeks card along with the $100,000 Newmarket handicap that will feature most of Tasmania’s best sprinters.