News

Denhams to prove it's all in genes

22nd Mar 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - John Schell - Monday, 23rd March 2009

FATHER-AND-SON training team Jack and Allan Denham are set to dominate Saturday's Rosehill Guineas with Metal Bender (pictured) and Tobique primed for the group 1 lead-up to the AJC Australian Derby.

Metal Bender came from near last to win the Randwick Guineas at its latest start, while Tobique charged into fourth on the back of a Canberra Guineas win.

"I haven't had to do much with Tobique since the Randwick Guineas," Allan Denham said on Saturday.

"He had those two runs within a week at Canberra and Randwick so he'd done it tough. I'm happy with him. Corey Brown will ride him in the Rosehill Guineas and he should like the 2000m."

Brown was suspended by Racing NSW stewards at Rosehill on the weekend for careless riding in the Phar Lap Stakes on Fully Fledged. He can ride on Rosehill Guineas day, then will be out of action until the AJC Australian Derby on April 11.

Metal Bender is trained by Jack Denham and jockey Danny Nikolic will stick with the three-year-old after partnering it in the group 1 Randwick Guineas.

"He's doing well too," Allan Denham said of Metal Bender. "We are as happy as can be with both horses."

Darley trainer Peter Snowden, meanwhile, is banking on his pair of Caymans and Sousa, with Kerrin McEvoy and Hugh Bowman on board respectively.

"Caymans will be better for his two runs back from a spell, while Sousa is getting up to a distance he enjoys now," said Snowden, who will also start debut winner Country Club in the Magic Night Stakes.

Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider will go around in the Rosehill Guineas with Clare Lindop to ride, while Chris Munce will take on Rhyno Chaser for trainer Kevin Moses.

New Zealand Derby runner-up Down The Road will contest the event with Damien Oliver booked to ride, while Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter is considering starting up-and-comer Rich Endowment, with Michael Rodd on board.

"He is a horse that I've got a bit of time for," Walter said. "I'll just see what the nominations are like [today] and see whether I throw him into the deep end, or wait for the Tulloch Stakes the following week."

Rodd, who rode the Mark Kavanagh-trained Whobegotyou into a close second behind Heart Of Dreams in the Phar Lap Stakes at the weekend, will link with the Murray- and Bjorn Baker-trained Mr Tipsy in the Manion Cup on Saturday - should he race. He will also ride two-year-old Samantha's Charm for trainer Kris Lees in the Magic Night.