Unexposed types dominate G.S.R. Derby
My apologies to readers on the layout this week. I was making the journey north from Victoria to Queensland when I decided to make a detour to check out Ayers Rock. Regrettably my laptop got damaged on the way and I am typing this report on an old 1960’s typewriter, hence the poor quality.
So to the race. The field appears at first glance to be a little lacking in some of the leading sophomores with only Wild Trips ranked in the top 10 but on the flip side, this should be a good race to highlight some of the up and coming stars of the future.
1. CARELESS crazyjoe 5/1
(Mineshaft x Gulch x Caerleon)
First 8 runs on dirt yielded 2 wins with respectable figures but then the trainer seemed to have a ‘eureka’ moment. He put the son of Mineshaft on turf over 11 furlongs and the horse responded by thrashing an allowance field, his next start over 12 furlongs gave much the same result. This horse hasn’t been extended in his 2 turf tries and Saturday will prove to be the acid test. This could be ‘a monster’ in waiting!
2. PEDRO’S SPEEDSTER mrenforcer 21/1
(Red Ransom x Theatrical x Nijinsky)
Nice pedigree! And the horse is living up to his lineage, which augurs well for the future. Five runs, three wins with the last being a stakes win over 14 furlongs against older opponents. This guy definitely has a future but I’m wondering if this test may be a little too soon in his career. Will stay the trip and put up a good showing but may find a couple of the more experienced types too good. One for the notebook.
3. RAPID GREY champions4 6/1
(Tactical Cat x With Approval x Bold Ruckus)
Floored all the sceptics by putting up a good showing behind Horseshoe Bay in his latest race over 12 furlongs. That was his first attempt at the trip and he acquitted himself with honors. There is nothing of Horseshoe Bay’s caliber in this field so this fella must hold every chance of adding a G1 to his resume.
4. I GOT A FUSA blakentra 14/1
(Fusaichi Pegasus x Silver Hawk x Wajima)
It took a while for the trainer to figure out what this guy needed, but his last run over 12 furlongs in a G2 event showed where his aptitude lies. A staying-on second in that race with Wild Trips a length behind in 3rd proved he has the class for this race and deserves the utmost respect. Dangerous to leave out of calculations.
5. WILD TRIPS graywolf6 10/1
(Forest Wildcat x Sadler’s Wells x Pacific Native)
A stalwart of the sophomore middle-distance scene this season, the son of Forest Wildcat tends to find a couple too good in this grade and his limitations have been exposed over the last few months. I would be surprised if there wasn’t a couple in here that were able to improve past him. Likely to be staying on for the minor money.
6. TESTING POSITIVE slades2 12/1
(Cats And Dogs x Sadler’s Wells x Unbridled)
This guy has made his living in sprints and demonstrably failed to see out the 12 furlongs on his only attempt at the distance last time out, I see no reason why 5 weeks on the same shouldn’t apply on Saturday.
7. O.C. COHEN theoc 8/1
(Fusaichi Pegasus x Storm Cat x Roberto)
This fella first came to the fore when running his heart out to finish 3rd in the Sydney Derby. That race showed his stamina limitations and I remain convinced that his best distance is around 10 furlongs. His guts may get him a finish on the board but is one to take note of when dropped back in trip.
8. SAVAGE FRONTIER husky 6/1
(Esperero x Press Card x Boucher)
Extremely versatile son of the Forty Niner sire, Esperero. Turf or dirt, nine to twelve furlongs, it all comes the same to this colt. He won a G3 over the distance in his penultimate start but there is some suspicion over that form as the runner-up Manifest Destiny patently failed to stay, so not form to take at face value. However, he has done little wrong and it would take a brave man to dismiss his chances here.
9. FIREZAPPER fatattack 18/1
(Empire Maker x Dixieland Band x Damascus)
Difficult to quantify this one’s chances as he has only had the one run on the surface, which yielded a comfortable allowance victory over this very trip. Could be anything at this point in time and we’ll know a lot more about him after the race. Value at 18/1.
10. SAVIO zatopeck 14/1
(General Meeting x Theatrical x Spectacular Bid)
Gained an early-season stakes success over 9.5 furlongs and has supplemented that win subsequently with 2 allowance wins including one over 5 furlongs. On that basis I would be surprised if he was able to stay the 12 furlongs on Saturday. I feel he’s a little over his head here.
11. FLAWLESS VICTORY jacklad 10/1
(Kingmambo x Storm Cat x Benny The Dip)
A colt with a pedigree that demands to be tried in a higher grade. He has done little wrong in his short career with 5 wins from his last 6 runs, his only defeat in that sequence coming over a distance that was probably on the short side for him. If I didn’t know his form I would say the pedigree was that of a 10-furlong horse but his last success in a stakes race over 10.5 furlongs showed that he may require further. If he improves for the increase in distance then he stands every chance on Saturday.
12. ELYSIAN isolde 12/1
(Sadler’s Wells x Kingmambo x Cozzene)
A colt bred along similar lines to the owner’s star filly Mumbai. The difference between the two being that this colt will stay this 12 furlongs, Mumbai being more of a miler. This guy’s profile is very similar to one or two others in the field, in that he is unexposed over this distance and has a comfortable stakes success last time out to back up his credentials. Like those others mentioned, he could be anything at present.
13. ZASPIRIT springapp 24/1
(Zabeel x Quest For Fame)
The only filly in the field and one not favored by the layers, being offered at a derogatory 24/1. That’s long odds for a filly good enough to run second in the Oaks De English. Unfortunately she hasn’t done anything since that run and there have to be doubts about her well being with two sub-par runs recently. On her Oaks run she would have a shout but it’s a tough ask against the colts.
14. KING MIDAS kjracing 9/1
(Touch Gold x Easy Goer x Saratoga Six)
Able to adapt to either surface, this colt is stakes class on the dirt and possibly the same grade on turf although there is little evidence to support this thinking. An easy win over 11 furlongs grants him an opportunity to test himself against this field, I just feel he may be found wanting.
Summary
Although some of the higher-ranked 3yo’s have decided to bypass this Grade 1, do not be under the illusion that this has devalued the race. There is enough quality in this event to make it a race worth referring back to in the future. I will be surprised if the winner does not go on to make a name for himself against some of the better-known names in this division. I could not possibly name a winner but my leanings are toward the more unexposed animals like Careless, Firezapper, Flawless Victory and Elysian.