Strong field takes shape for Derby
‘‘We've run some bloods and a done a few things but he looks great and seems fine.’’ Tony Pike
The constantly changing $1million New Zealand Derby landscape is beginning to take shape.
Confirmations since Saturday’s racing at Ellerslie have the field shaping as one of the strongest and most even for some time.
Depth of talent is evident with favourite Savile Row ($4.50) a Group I weight-for-age performer, second favourite Sacred Elixir ($5) a Group I winner in Australia and another nine black-type performers in the mix.
The decision has been made to pay a $30,000 late entry for Saturday’s Avondale Guineas (2100m) winner Gingernuts and although in two minds on Saturday, Tony Pike has confirmed Sacred Elixir will front up.
‘‘He was bouncing around at the track this morning [Monday],’’ Pike said. ‘‘We’ve run some bloods and a done a few things but he looks great and seems fine.’’
The Cambridge trainer was puzzled by the Pour Moi gelding’s run in the Avondale Guineas and will be dipping into his bag of tricks to have him at peak for the Derby.
‘‘He’s got to find two or three lengths,’’ Pike said. ‘‘We will consider putting the blinkers back on to sharpen him. He will have a gallop on Tuesday morning with them on.
‘‘It could have been the ground on Saturday - it was pretty holding and might have had something to do with his run.
‘‘He was only second-up and there could be some improvement to come, but I can’t fault him.’’
Adding to the quality of the field is confirmation Waikato Guineas winner Wyndspelle will also run with leading jockey Danielle Johnson to ride.
The Donna Logan/Chris Gibbs-trained colt was withdrawn from the Avondale Guineas with his trainers deciding it best to go straight into the Derby.
‘‘He’s trained on very well since Te Rapa and he was much better off not running on Saturday,’’ Logan said.
He will gallop between races at Avondale on Wednesday to keep him up to the mark.
Stablemate Romancer will also pursue a Derby start despite a disappointing Avondale Guineas effort on an unsuitable slow track.
‘‘We got caught in no man’s land,’’ jockey Jonathan Riddell said after the race. ‘‘He tracked in okay but hated the track.’’
Vinnie Colgan has the option to ride Romancer in the Derby.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable still have the chance of five runners in the race although with the late entry of Opie Bosson’s mount Gingernuts, last start Te Rapa winner Mongolian Legend sits 19th in order of entry for the 18-horse field.
Mongolian Wolf (third), Highlad (fifth) and Camino Rcoso (eighth) ran in the Avondale Guineas and continue on to the Derby as does Jon Snow after his seventh in the Herbie Dyke Stakes.
‘‘They are all still in contention,’’ Forsman said.
Savile Row continues to please connections since his last start second to Volkstok’n’barrell in the Group I Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) on February 11 at Te Rapa.