Xbox presses NZ Derby claims
Tenacious victory earns him a $10 quote for Ellerslie
Graeme Richardson went to Te Rapa looking for an answer from Xbox and the talented three-year-old gave him an emphatic reply. The Matamata horseman, who trains in partnership with Gavin Parker, sent the son of Niagara beyond a mile for the first time in yesterday’s $100,000 Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m).
Xbox’s tenacious victory at the expense of Mongolian conquer or earned him a $10 quote for next month’s Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.
“That was awesome, it gave me a big thrill,” Richardson said. “He’s a good horse and he deserved it. He worked up really well and he is the type of horse that can switch off in his races, he relaxes.”
Xbox raced close to the pace before he hit the front 250m from home and then held off the late charge of Mongolian conqueror for a narrow victory.
“He’s still green and learning and he got to the front a bit too soon,” Richardson said. “I thought the other one was going to roll him before my bloke fought back.”
Bred and part-owned by racing photographer Trish Dunell, Xbox was partnered by Trudy Thornton who had also guided him to his previous win in an age group event at Ellerslie.
“We got there a bit too easy and he’s still green, but he’s a very talented horse,” Thornton said.
“I was never worried about him getting the trip.
“He relaxes really well, he’s very exciting.”
Time Lord and Rock On Wood both made good ground to finish third and fourth respectively.
● Mission Hill has tightened in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby market after his bold showing at Te Rapa.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding accounted for the older horses in the Snell Packaging & Safety Handicap (1600m) yesterday to earn an $8 quote for the classic at Ellerslie on March 3.
In a changing market after the defections of top colts Age Of Fire and Demonetization, Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) winner Scott Base is the $3.50 favourite.
A son of Teofilo, Mission Hill is now unbeaten in his last four starts and came from a tricky spot near the back of the field on the turn to keep his winning sequence going.
“It was a cool ride from Opie [Bosson],” Forsman said.
“He’s a real winner and tries hard. The only worry with him is that physically he’s still quite immature.”
He was also pleased with the effort of Vin De Dance, who is at $16 in the Derby market, after the Roc de Cambes gelding came from last on the bend to finish fifth behind his stablemate. “He got a long way back. “He’s still on the way up and there’s a lot of improvement to come from him and they will both go to the Avondale Guineas next,” Forsman said.