Derby win dream come true for King
MELBOURNE: Johnny Get Angry stormed home over the last 100m to win the $A2 million ($NZ2.1 million) Victoria Derby at a virtually deserted Flemington racecourse on Saturday on the first day of the Victoria Racing Club’s marquee spring carnival.
The horse trained by former AFL titlewinning coach Denis Pagan was locked neck and neck with favourite Young Werther in the final 200m but stormed home by more than a length over the fastfinishing Hit The Shot.
Young Werther finished third in the 2500m race for 3yrolds.
‘‘All I was thinking at the 600 was
‘Don’t wake up’,’’ winning jockey
Lachlan King, who claimed his first group 1 race, said.
‘‘I’ve lived this moment in my dreams and it worked out so well.
‘‘It’s unbelievable.’’
Pagan, who coached North Melbourne to AFL titles in 1996 and 1999 and only earned his trainer’s licence this year, said he could not believe the horse had won the race. ‘‘I’m lost for words,’’ Pagan said. ‘‘It’s just such an amazing feeling. I thought I was pretty low key yesterday and had a good lunch and maybe a bit too much to drink.
‘‘I didn’t expect this. And it’s happened.’’
Social distancing rules meant the racecourse, which typically attracts crowds in excess of 300,000 over the four race days of the carnival, was deserted with just essential staff, jockeys and officials on site. — Reuters