NZ Derby favourites get pass marks

Savile Row and Sacred Elixir, the two favourites for Saturday’s New Zealand Derby, gained given pass marks after gallops on the course proper at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning.

The pair were part of 10 horses who took part in the pre-carnival session. Savile Row, the $4.50 fixed odds favourite for the New Zealand Derby, worked with his stablemate, Auckland Cup candidate Mister Impatience, and Sacred Elixir ($5) went with his stablemate, Sheridan, who is being set for the Rating 65 2100 metres on Saturday.

Co-trainer Mike Moroney purposely wanted to take advantage of the Ellerslie gallop with Savile Row.

‘‘Mike wanted him to be tested around the top bend (out of the straight),’’ said Moroney’s training partner, Pam Gerard.

‘‘That’s why their gallop was a bit different. They built up speed heading out of the straight then pulled back to three-quarter pace down the back straight and ran home again.

‘‘The whole thing was more for him than Mister Impatience. It was also about getting him relaxed.

‘‘He did get on one rein a bit but Mickey (Michael Coleman) seemed pretty happy with him.’’

Savile Row has two wins and four placings from seven starts and his record could read a lot better but for his inexperience.

‘‘He’s still a big baby and really hasn’t clicked yet,’’ Gerard said. ‘‘He still does things wrong and it has cost him. He should have won his last two starts.’’

Runner-up in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas last November, Savile Row has been beaten narrowly in his other two Group I assignments, the Levin Classic (when defeated a nose by Hall Of Fame) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (going down a long head to Volkstok’n’barrell).

Though overshadowed in Tuesday’s gallop by Savile Row, Mister Impatience (ridden by Sam Spratt) also pleased Gerard.

‘‘Savile Row was a bit too brilliant for him, but he pulled up well,’’ she said. ‘‘I’d like to see some nice sting out of the track for the Auckland Cup.’’

Trainer Tony Pike was satisfied with Sacred Elixir, who was obviously the centre of attention in his gallop with Sheridan.

‘‘He gave Sheridan six to eight lengths start and cruised up to him,’’ Pike said. ‘‘They built into it the last 400 metres wide out.

‘‘He hit the line ok and dragged Leith (rider Leith Innes) up the hill. It was good to see him going on like that.

‘‘To be honest it was not as good as in Melbourne, but he’s still going well enough to be a good chance in the derby.

‘‘It’s always hard to get a line on him. He’s pretty casual.

‘‘We put the blinkers back on and he travelled well. He used to race in them until we took them off for the Vase (at Moonee Valley).’’

Sacred Elixir won the Group II Vase at Moonee Valley then finished second to Prized Icon in the Victoria Derby and in his two starts since being freshened he has finished fourth over 1600 at

Ellerslie and seventh in the Avondale Guineas.

- NZ Racing Desk