Let's start our Derby countdown! First up, two horses that aren't running in the big race tomorrow.
SPELLBINDER
filly
O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint (O'Reilly is the sire of one NZ Derby winner - Silent Achiever, 2012)
Owner: Te Akau Stud (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Jason Bridgman (no Derby wins)
Rider: Matt Cameron (no Derby wins)
A $60,000 purchase at auction as a yearling.
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:4-2-1
Stakes races:
1st Soliloquy Stakes (L)
1st Karaka Mile (L)
2nd Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic (G2)
2nd Sarten Memorial (G3)
3rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (G1)
This is a seriously good filly who's shown freakish ability in her brief career so far - like in her seven-length demolition of the Soliloquy Stakes and a romp in the Karaka Mile. There were doubts about her stamina, but she blew those away with a strong-closing second in the Sir Tristram - coming from way back, and off a slow pace. She's undefeated in three races at Ellerslie, two of them stakes.
Maybe she can make it three years in a row for fillies. Maybe she can give Te Akau their first Derby win (they had placings with Tell A Tale in 2009 and Rock 'N' Pop in 2012).
Odds: 40-1 in January; 30-1 two weeks ago; now 9-1 (equal fifth favourite)
WE'REGOINGTOGETCHA
colt
Testa Rossa - Sweetness 'N' Light (the 2nd dam, Tricia Ann, is also the dam of multiple stakes winner La Sizeranne; also the family of Derby winner and great sire Grosvenor)
Owner: D Hayes & S Prenter (no Derby wins)
Trainer: David Hayes (no relation to the Australian trainer of the same name!) (no Derby wins)
Rider: Kelly Myers (no Derby wins)
A $140,000 purchase at auction as a yearling.
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 10:2-2-2
Stakes races:
2nd Ryder Stakes (L, 2yo)
3rd Waikato Guineas (G2)
8th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (G1)
8th Levin Classic (G1)
Flying along under the radar until his powerful finish into third in the Waikato Guineas. Looks likely to love the step up to 2400m.
Odds: 30-1 in January; 18-1 before Waikato Guineas; now 7-1 (equal third favourite)