Kiwi star has Derby at mercy
Rival trainers have all but conceded the Victoria Derby to firm favourite
Sacred Elixir, whose iron-clad grip on the $A1.5 million race strengthened after being gifted the coveted pole position in the barrier draw.
Tony Pike’s star, who thumped his rivals last week in the Moonee Valley Vase, tightened to $2.80 after the draw. His opponents conceded tomorrow’s three-year-old classic is probably out of their reach. Pike is trying to become the third
New Zealand trainer to win the race in the past seven years after Murray
Baker (2010) and Trent Busuttin (2011) won with Lion Tamer and
Sangster respectively. Asked is there was any way of conquering Sacred Elixir, Beach Life’s trainer Ciaron Maher said: “Probably not. It’s his to lose. He’s coming good at the right time and he’s a quality
horse. The [Moonee Valley] Vase is great form for a race like this.”
Caulfield trainer Mick Price said he was struggling to see any way his
Rocketeer or the other 14 hopefuls could upset Sacred Elixir. “He’s going to be very hard to beat,” Price said. “That Moonee Valley Vase form is super form for the Derby.”
James Cummings has one of the better chances of causing an upset with Prized Icon even though he was
safely held by the Kiwi at Moonee Valley last week. Cummings said the
2500m would suit his stayer. “[Prized Icon’s] run was common on the face of it, but he’s quite tough and this is the type of race where that toughness can come to the fore.“