Rizla Green, Street Crockpot Favored In Sydney Derby
THE SYDNEY DERBY Grade 1, Purse $1,600,000 ($960,000 To The Winner) 12 Furlongs, Firm Turf Course, 3 YO Open Victoria Racecourse It’s Sydney Derby time, and that means one thing. The three year old long division turf season is really starting to heat up, and we might just see a Derby de English contender (or three, or four) suddenly pop up from out of nowhere here in Victoria this weekend. Many in this field of 14 young three year olds going in the $1.6 million Sydney Derby this weekend have never even approached the distance they’ll be asked to go this weekend–12 furlongs on the firm turf course–but that doesn’t mean a lot of them don’t have the pedigrees to get that distance, and more. The morning line odds makers are so confused by this field, in fact, they couldn’t decide who to make the post-time favorite. So they hopped on two co-favorites. The Irish-bred Rizla Green, who has three graded wins under his belt already and is a neck away from making it four, and the Kentucky-bred Street Crockpot, who has some monster speed figures the last two times out but has been raced only four times in his career so far, have been installed as the 6-1 morning line favorites. How fitting that those two should be the favorites here in Victoria this weekend. After all, Kentucky-breds have won five of the 12 Sydney Derbies so far, while the Irish-breds are hot on their tails with three winners of their own. Kentucky and Ireland have just about dominated this big race in Victoria, a race that has also produced no less that five Derby de English winners. There are a few other interesting colts in this race, too. Some are very heavily raced coming in here, like Rizla Green, and some have only a handful of starts on their resumes, like Street Crockpot. Lorenzo, an English-bred, will be trying to give his country only its second Sydney Derby winner since the race’s inception in 2000. He’s the 7-1 third favorite behind Rizla Green and Street Crockpot. Then there are a couple of really interesting colts listed at 8-1 by the odds makers. And they’re both Irish-breds. Exbourne’s Orion and Nowthatimabigstar give Ireland a couple of excellent shots to take the Sydney Derby trophy home this weekend. And at 10-1, we have Daiwa Express, the Grade 1 Champagne Mile Stakes winner right here in Victoria who has raced over a mile only once in his young career so far. Also at 10-1, we have yet another very interesting Irish-bred by the name of Dynamic Force. He’s only got five starts coming in here, but he popped a 103 speed figure last time out in a listed stakes. That 103 speed figure represented a massive 13-point jump from his previous effort, and it convinced his Australian connections to send their Irish-bred into the fray here this weekend. Those young colts are the top five, according to the odds makers, but as we all know in these early-season three year old races, almost anything can happen–and usually does–when you get a bunch of hot young guns running on the big stage in Australia for the first time. Here’s the field for the 13th running of the $1.6 million Grade 1 Sydney Derby for three year olds and up, at a distance of 12 furlongs on the turf course, in Victoria this weekend. (1) DAIWA EXPRESS (JPN) (10/1) (9—4-1-1) ($755,980) Owner: Casino Racing Syndicate 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #12 A Japanese-bred horse has never won the Sydney Derby, and Daiwa Express will be trying to be the first for his country to do exactly that. The son of Daiwa Major out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Crimson Express will be making his tenth start here in Victoria this weekend. Of his previous nine starts, seven have been in graded company. Daiwa Express didn’t take long at all to start popping some impressive speed figures early in his two year old season. By his fourth start, he knocked off a pretty impressive field in the 8-furlong Grade 1 Champagne Mile right here in Victoria, and he popped an 89 speed figure doing it. Daiwa Express backed that up his next time out, when he blew out a 92 speed figure while winning the Grade 2 Knick Knack (also at 8 furlongs) in Queensland. He’s very familiar with these Australian courses, but he hasn’t won since that score in the Grade 2 Knick Knack back in October of last season. Daiwa Express did finish second last time out in the Grade 1 Golden Rose (8 furlongs) in Victoria. He’s a deep closer who draws the rail here, and that might be to his advantage. He can get a ground-saving trip here, if he doesn’t get tangled up in too much early traffic. (2) MAKE IT SO RYRY (JPN) (12/1) (10—4-2-1) ($515,475) Owner: Cothill Stables 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #24 Make It So Ryry is one of four Japanese-breds here in the Sydney Derby this weekend, and he’s ranked #24 in the long turf division for three year olds. The son of the Aussie-bred sire Commands has one graded win coming in here, but it was a big one. Back in October, he scored in the $500,000 Grade 2 The International (8 furlongs) in Paris. Make It So Ryry popped a 95 speed figure there, and he did the same thing next time out when he was beaten only two lengths in the $1 million Grade 1 The Futurity back in his native Japan. He’s come close a number of other times, having either won or finished in the money in seven of his ten career starts. In his only two starts as a three year old, he’s finished fifth both times, and both of those were in listed stakes events. He didn’t come close to matching either of his 95 speed figures from his two year old season, but that distance in those races (8.5 furlongs wasn’t quite to his liking. He had a very tough two year old campaign, so he might be just recovering from that. Look for a big effort from the entry for Cothill Stables this weekend when he stretches out to 12 furlongs for the first time in his career. (3) KOWALSKI (IRE) (17/1) (6—2-2-2) ($71,126) Owner: Rafa Stables 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #178 Kowalski is an Irish-bred son of Rock Of Gibraltar, and he’s one of the few in here who have neither a listed or graded stakes try yet so far in his young career. He’s got only six career starts, and he’s won two of those and finished either second or third the other four times he’s hit the track. Owned by Rafa Stables, Kowalski has been popping some pretty nice speed figures, especially in his last three starts (92, 93 and 90) two of which he’s won. He’s out of the Rainbow Quest mare Zybow, and this guy was bred to go long. In fact, he’s one of the few in here who’s even approached the 12-furlongs he’ll be asked to go this weekend. Last time out, he won an 11-furlong allowance race in New Zealand, and he laid close to the early leaders and drew off late to score an impressive open lengths win there. This guy will be close to the lead early, more than likely, and you can look for him to come with a big, closing late kick, like he did in his last start. He might be a live long shot here in the Sydney Derby. Keep an eye on Kowalski, one of five Irish-breds in this field of 14 this weekend. (4) EVEN THE COUNT (KY) (12/1) (14—5-4-0) ($493,865) Owner: The Light Bulb Conspiracy 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #13 Even The Count is owned by Tyedye of The Light Bulb Conspiracy, and he’s one of only three American-breds entered in the Sdyney Derby. That fact is rather surprising, because this is a race the Americans have dominated in the past 12 years. Kentucky-breds have won five of the 12 Sydney Derbies. Even The Count is a son of Even The Score, and he’s out of the Australian-bred Viscount mare Western Idol. With fourteen starts under his belt, Even The Count comes into Victoria as one of the more heavily raced colts in this race. As a two-year-old, he came ever so close to picking up a couple of graded stakes wins, losing by ¼ of a length in each of the Grade 3 Summertime and the Grade 1 High Flyer, both 8 furlong races. He finally picked up his first graded win last time out, and what a monster of a win it was! Even The Count scored big in the Grade 2 The No Allies, and he popped the first triple digit speed figure of his career there (103). That number puts him right up there with the best of these in Victoria this weekend. The entry from the super-sharp connections of The Light Bulb Conspiracy has got a ton of early speed. In fact, he’s got more early speed than most of these coming in here, and you’ll more than likely see him setting some fast early fractions up front. He bounced out to a 6 1/1 length lead in that 10.5 furlong Grade 2 The No Allies in Paris on April 7, just three weeks ago, and he won geared down at the end by open lengths. It was a monster effort for the Kentucky-bred, and off that win alone, you have to take this guy very seriously this weekend. (5) RIZLA GREEN (IRE) (*6/1*) (8—5-3-0) ($539,600) Owner: POGO
3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #8
Rizla Green is not only Irish-bred, and he’s not only ranked eighth in the three-year-old long turf division, but he’s also a son of Montjeu, who has already sired two Sydney Derby winners in 12 years. This might just be Montjeu’s third son to win this race. The scratch-bred who’s also got Kingmambo and Danehill back there in his pedigree has been that impressive so far. He’s pretty lightly raced, winning five of his eight starts so far. Rizla Green has also never finished lower than second in his other three starts. This guy is for real. He’s won four of his last five coming in here, and last time out, he would have made it five in a row, but he just missed, losing by only a neck in the Grade 3 Manatee. This horse is uber hot, and he’s ready to handle this 12 furlongs he’ll be seeing here this weekend in the Sydney Derby. He’s won three graded stakes by a combined 10 ¾ lengths. But look at the races he’s won and their speed figures: The Grade 3 Wooden Reserve (97 SF), the Grade 1 Saint Cloud (96 SF) and the Grade 3 Super Hero Role Playing Stakes (102 SF). He was ultra impressive in that last one, a 10.5 furlong race in New Zealand. He came from seven lengths off the pace and drew off to win by a very impressive 5 ¾ lengths. That 102 speed figure he threw there was the highest of his career, and considering the fact that he won pretty much on cruise control at the end, it makes it even more impressive. This horse is a beast, and he will love this 12 furlongs he’ll see in Sydney here this weekend. Throw in the fact that he’s never finished lower than second in any of his races, and you’re probably looking at your next Sydney Derby winner here. IF he doesn’t win, he’ll be awfully close, that’s for sure. If you’re playing exotics, don’t forget to throw this guy’s number on some of your tickets. He’s that good. It’s amazing that he’s not an odds-on favorite here in Victoria this weekend.
(6) LORENZO (ENG) (7/1) (10—4-3-0) ($361,870)
Owner: Bush League Stables 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #19
Topicount, the owner of Bush League Stables, is not only one of the top trainers in the game, but she’s got a pretty massive beast here in the English-bred Lorenzo, a son of Medicean. Only one other English-bred has won the Sydney Derby, and that was Duke Three, who won the inaugural Sydney Derby in 2000. Can Lorenzo be the second English-bred to win the big race in Victoria? Probably so. Look at what Lorenzo has done so far. The colt who is out of the Danzig mare Danzing Daisy has ten career starts, and he’s finished first or second seven of those ten times. He won the Grade 2 Royal Dodge back in September of last season. That was the last time he’s won, but he’s come awfully close a couple of times, finishing second in a listed stakes to kick off his three year old campaign. Last time out, he finished second in the Grade 2 No Allies, where he lost to Even The Count, the colt who he’ll see here again this weekend. The way Lorenzo has been coming on late in his races, there’s very little doubt he can get this 12 furlongs. That much is certain. In fact, he’s been primed for this Sydney Derby. Two starts back, Topicount threw this guy on the dirt, where he finished 13th in the Grade 1 Immense Derby Challenge. That was just a surface check run for Lorenzo. Now he’s back on the grass where he belongs, and at the distance he belongs. And he’s going to be a tough one to beat here in Victoria this weekend. Watch out for Lorenzo. Top-notch trainer, top-shelf horse. He’s ready.
(7) EXBOURNE’S ORION (IRE) (8/1) (11—7-3-0) ($196,652)
Owner: Redalert Stables 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #103
Exbourne’s Orion is one of five Irish-bred colts in this race looking to become the fourth Irish-bred winner to score in the Sydney Derby over the years. He’s got 11 career starts so far, but an incredible six of them have come this year already in just five months. This horse has been run hard and often this season, and the five wins he’s scored in those six starts are probably what’s got him into this Sydney Derby. The son of Dylan Thomas is out of the Kingmambo mare Exbourne’s Viper, and he was throwing some really nice speed figures back in January and February when he popped back to back 89 and 94 speed figure races in allowance wins. Those two wins kick-started his five-race winning streak in 2012, and the race after that he scored his only listed stakes win in the 7-furlong Wavering Note Turf Sprint. In fact, of his first ten starts, only two were not sprint efforts. Last time out, he stepped in distance big time. Exbourne’s Orion finished second in the Grade 3 The Force Stakes, a race that was ten furlongs. He went off at 6.40/1, the longest odds of his career, and he finished second there, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, after controlling the early pace. Exbourne’s Orion is another in here with a ton of early speed, that’s for sure. Can he old on late at 12 furlongs, another big step up in distance for him, this weekend? Well, he answered that question last time out, when he ran 10 furlongs and popped the first triple digit speed figure of his career, but he’s got to navigate another two furlongs in Victoria this weekend. That’s going to be the real acid test for him. This is the best bunch he’s ever faced, that much is certain.
(8) WHAT A TRICKSTER (KY) (13/1) (8—1-1-4) ($160,745)
Owner: Baggio Stables 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #34
Mark Baggio sends out What A Trickster here in Victoria this weekend. The scratch-bred son of Bernardini who’s also got Nijinsky II and Damascus back there in his pedigree has taken to the turf pretty well. He’s only got one win in his eight career starts, but he’s come close quite a few times–in quite a few big races so far in his young career. Five of his eight starts have come in some pretty big races, including the Grade 2 Boone’s Farm, the $500,000 Grand Critter Stakes, and the $500,000 Grade 1 Saint Cloud. He finished third in every single one of those races, but he was gaining at the end in each and every one of those starts. That means he just might appreciate this extra distance here in Victoria this weekend. Something happened to him in the Grade 1 Futurity, when he was distanced, but he took two months off from the races, and he looked like a monster race horse after the layoff. He just missed in his first start off the layoff, losing by ½ a length in an allowance race at 9.5 furlongs. He threw a 97 speed figure there, and he came from over seven lengths off the pace with a monster stretch run. Then, last time out, he was dead last, some 17 lengths off the pace midway through the Grade 2 No Allies, before he put on another monster late run to finish third there, beaten 4 ¾ lengths. This guy has got a monster of a late kick, that’s for sure, and you can bet that Mr. Baggio has got his colt pumped up for this race. He’ll love this 12 furlongs, and at 13/1, you might just get some real betting value here in What A Trickster. He’s got the goods to go the distance here in Victoria. Keep your eye on this guy. He just may be your next Sydney Derby champion.
(9) REFLECTED (JPN) (15/1) (8—3-1-2) ($55,585)
Owner: Pedro’s Racing Empire 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #246
Reflected is a Japanese-bred son of Empire Maker out of the Red Ransom mare Hyperinflation. He’s only got a little over $55,000 in earnings coming into this race, but he’s won three of his eight starts and finished second or third in three others. His three other out of the money finishes were pretty glaring ones. He finished a well beaten sixth in the Grade 3 Wooden Reserve and then last time out he finished a well beaten seventh in the Grade 3 Manatee Classic on a yielding turf course in New Zealand. You can probably chuck that last race and write it off as a simple case of him not liking the wet turf course. He really didn’t run the race he’s capable of there. He was coming off a two week rest since the start before, and his speed figure dipped 20 points there below his prior effort. Now he comes into Sydney well rested, he’s probably sharp and you can look for a much better effort for him in this spot. After all, he did pop a couple of 98 speed figure races two starts before that Grade 3 Manatee Classic race, while being brought up in distance. He might just like this 12 furlongs, and with good weather predicted for this weekend in Victoria, he won’t have to worry about a bad surface to run on. Expect a big improvement from this guy this weekend in the Sydney Derby when he tries to become the first Japanese-bred to win this race.
(10) NOWTHATIMABIGSTAR (IRE) (8/1) (7—2-3-1) ($91,520)
Owner: Conquest Farms 3 YO Turf Long Division Rank: #298
Galileo. He’s sired many a champion in Derbyfever and in real life. And this might be one more. Conquest Farms bred its Theatrical mare Lead Actress to Galileo, and the result of that mating has produced a big, strapping colt by the name of Nowthatimabigstar. And this son of Galileo has an excellent chance to be exactly that–a big star–this weekend in Victoria. He’s only got a handful of races under his belt so far, seven, to be exact. But he’s won two of those, including a MSW win and an allowance win. He’s one of a few in here who have tremendous early speed at his disposal, but he’s been having a spot of trouble holding onto those leads at times. Nowthatimabigstar had been throwing around some pretty nice speed figures as a three year old, but he blew some early leads in finishing second in two of his four two-year-old races. And then he turned three, and big things started to happen for this colt, particularly in the speed figure department. He started off his three year old campaign in January, popping a 98 speed figure and losing by a nose in an allowance event in Japan. Then he popped the highest speed figure of his career (102) in his first stakes try, a listed stakes even in the Tricky Flute Turf Mile. He finished third there after gathering up a six-length lead on the field halfway through that race. Last time out, he took a huge step up in distance when he ran in the 9.5 furlong in the Zz Zzar Turf Route right here in Victoria. He got a lead there early and turned in the only out of the money finish in his career, finishing fourth, well beaten by over 12 lengths. Can Nowthatimabigstar handle the step up in distance here to 12 furlongs? That’s a huge question for this Galileo colt, who’s a rather surprising 8/1 in this spot. He’s turned in some excellent performances at much shorter distances, mostly in allowance events, but this is a big race, with big money on the line–and that huge step up in distance. It’s going to be very interesting to see how this colt handles the step up in distance, not to mention the step up in class here in Victoria this weekend.
(11) TWIN OF QUEENSLAND (JPN) (15/1) (16—3-5-0) ($137,815)
Owner: Wolf’s Den 3 YO Long Turf Division Rank: #1460
The Twin Of Queensland has an incredible 16 starts so far, the most of any colt in this race. He’s a son of Twining out of the Stravinsky mare Wolf Of Queensland. He’s 15/1 in this spot, and that may be because he’s only got three career starts on the grass, all as a two year old. He appears to have been on the Bluegrass Derby Trail as a three year old, instead of the Sydney Derby Trail. All five of his starts as a three year old have come on the dirt, and four of them were in graded starts. This colt has had a grueling schedule on the dirt, a hard surface that may very well play to his disadvantage here on the soft lawn in Victoria. He’s run in Bluegrass Derby Trail Stakes such as the Risen Star, the Vermont Is 4 Lovers, the Sand Castle Derby (Lock Prep) and the Arkansas Juvenile Derby (Lock Prep). His best finish was ninth in those four races, so his connections decided to throw him back on the grass here in the Sydney Derby. He doesn’t really have much turf form to go on here. He finished second in a sprint allowance event as a two year old, and he also finished second in the 8-furlong T.J. Smith listed stakes (restricted). Twin Of Queensland best turf speed figure was an 85, and both came in those two second place finishes as a two year old. It’s so difficult to tell what this colt is going to do here, never having run 12 furlongs, much less his inexperience on the turf. He’s a real long shot in this spot, and he’s breaking from the outside. This is a really tough spot for the colt from Wolf’s Den.
(12) A WILD STORM (AUS) (21/1) (9—5-0-2) ($78,408)
Owner: Wolf’s Den 3 YO Turf Long Division Rank: #1438
He’s the only Aussie-bred in this race, he’s representing his home country here in the Sydney Derby, and he’s also the longest shot in the race. A Wild Storm is the second of two entries from Wolf’s Den, and like his stable mate Twin Of Queensland, we really don’t have much turf form to go on with this son of Elvstroem, who is out of the Machiavellian mare French N Wild. He began his career as a two year old with three turf starts at Queensland, where he finished third twice, before he finally broke his maiden way back in an 8-furlong MSW race. Then he was sent off to race on the dirt, where he did fairly well, scoring in four straight allowance wins. Then he went into the mouth of the beast–graded dirt company–and he got absolutely swallowed up in both the Grade 1 Immense Derby Challenge and the Grade 1 Florida Derby (Lock Prep). Now, he’s back on the grass here in his native Australia, where he is facing a different beast of sorts–graded turf champions. Can he get 12 furlongs? Can he get 12 furlongs on the grass? Two huge questions for the second entry from the Wolf’s Den. He’s only got a little over $78,000 in earnings in his nine career starts, five of which he’s won, but this is a huge step up in distance and an even bigger move up in class here in Victoria this weekend. It would be a major surprise if this colt were to jump up and become only the second Australian-bred to win the thirteenth running of the Sydney Derby.
(13) DYNAMIC FORCE (IRE) (10/1) (4—2-2-0) ($77,170)
Owner: Royal Oak 3 YO Turf Long Division Rank: #100
Here’s a fairly interesting entry for the Sydney Derby. The scratch-bred son of Montjeu, who’s already produced two Sydney Derby winners, has achieved quite a bit already in his brief career. He comes in here as the lightest raced colt in the field, and already he’s established himself in the top 100 turf long division three year olds in the world. He broke his maiden in his second start on this same course he’ll be seeing this weekend, when he blew up 13 points from his debut speed figure and popped a 91 speed figure in January. Then it was off to Turkey. His connections, Royal Oak, who are somewhat new to the game, realized this colt’s talent quickly and skipped right over allowance company and entered Dynamic Force in an 8.5 furlong listed stakes, the Ball Ban Turf Route. He finished second there, before his connections flew him off to Italy, where he threw an absolute corker of a race in the 9.5 furlong in Hopefully Rattle Turf Route listed stakes. What was so amazing about that race was that his colt was in top form that day, and he blew up in the speed figure department, throwing a 103 that day in an open-lengths win over four other horses. With Miswaki and Dynaformer back there in this pedigree, this guy has quite a bit of early speed. He isn’t a deep closer, nor does he like the lead, but he will be very close to the early leaders, no doubt. That 103 speed figure indicates this colt is extremely talented. That much is certain. Can he overcome the inexperience factor here? No graded stakes runs, only a couple of listed stakes? He’s taking a huge step up in class, but this colt has a lot of raw talent. This is going to be a very interesting horse to watch this weekend. He’s drawn an outer barrier, but that shouldn’t hurt his chances much. If he runs anything close to the type of race he threw last time in that listed win in Italy, he might be one to keep your eye on this weekend.
(14) STREET CROCKPOT (KY) (*6/1*) (4—3-1-0) ($104,420)
Owner: Jdtrotter Stables 3 YO Turf Long Division Rank: #156
Here’s another one who’s lightly raced, Street Crockpot. Like Dynamic Force, who breaks just to the inside of him, Street Crockpot comes in here with only four career starts, and three of them were on the dirt. This colt opened up his career in January with an extremely impressive debut win on the dirt, across the pond in America. Then he flew to Denmark, where he absolutely smoked an allowance field there at 8.5 furlongs. He blew up 21 points in the speed figure department over his debut win, when he popped a 97 speed figure in that race in Denmark. His connections Jdtrotter Stables then put him on another airplane back to America, where he blew up again. He ran in the 8.5 furlong listed Bored Dirt Gulch Route listed stakes, and he popped an amazing 104 speed figure there. Even more amazing was the fact that he was beaten in that race, finishing second. It was simply astonishing to see this guy throw a 104 speed figure and get beaten. He’s go such an incredible amount of talent that Jdtrotter Stables decided to see what his colt would do on the turf. So he was stepped up in distance to a 9-furlong listed stakes race in Illinois, where he absolutely crushed that field, winning by 6 ¼ lengths. I think he’s the only horse in this field to not only throw back to back 100+ speed figures but to also do it on different surfaces. Absolutely shocking and incredible how much talent this lightly raced son of Street Cry has. He’s a scratch-bred who’s also got Giant’s Causeway and Kingmambo back there in his pedigree, so to say he’s royally bred is probably the understatement of the century. Back to back wins on turf and dirt, and two 100+ speed figures to boot. But that’s not the most amazing part of Street Crockpot’s story. The most amazing part is that when he takes the track this weekend in Victoria, it will be his third race in four weeks! Simply astonishing. This horse is a monster waiting to happen, and if he can handle the rigors of three races in 28 days, you will truly be seeing a monster horse that can win anywhere, on any surface, on just about any amount of rest you want him to have. Stunning! There’s no other word to describe what Street Crockpot has done in his brief career, and if he can do what he’s done the last two races–come back on short race and produce those kinds of speed figures–you might be seeing the Horse Of The Year, racing this weekend in Victoria in the Sydney Derby. Normally most connections would see this kind of talent and pamper it, but not these connections. They know they have a beast of a horse on their hands, and they’re going for it, in a big way, on a world class stage. Keep your binoculars trained on this guy in the Sydney Derby this weekend. He very well could not only crush this field, but he could also possibly be your Horse Of The Year, if he keeps up this pace. What a beast!