News

Snowden's Sousa takes gate one, and favouritism, in derby

8th Apr 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - John Schell - Wednesday, 8 April 2009

DARLEY head trainer Peter Snowden's hopes of adding the AJC Australian Derby to his group 1 double of last weekend were given a boost yesterday when his lone runner in the race, Sousa, drew gate one for Saturday's classic.

"That is a good draw, it's a lot better than having to start from barrier 16," Snowden said at yesterday's final session of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

"He can make his own luck from there. He is an on-pace runner as it is so he won't have to do any work to be up there."

Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride on Sousa for the first time this preparation after Hugh Bowman was aboard when it was a game second to Triple Crown aspirant Metal Bender in the Rosehill Guineas last start.

Sousa managed to usurp the Jack Denham-trained Metal Bender as AJC Australian Derby favourite after the barrier draw, at which Metal Bender drew 14 in the 16-horse field.

TAB Sportsbet promoted Sousa to a $4.20 elect with Metal Bender easing to $4.60.

"Metal Bender has gained good runs nearer the inside from back in his races to win the Randwick and Rosehill guineas," said TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie.

"He is going to have to get back again from 14, which won't make things too easy for him, but, in saying that, he has class on his side and should run the 2400m right out. It seems to be a wide-open derby and we'll let the punters decide on what horse should start favourite."

The Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained Tulloch Stakes winner Harris Tweed fared well with gate two and Bjorn Baker said yesterday: "The horse has thrived since his win last weekend.

"He has been eating up and has settled into Sydney really well. And he will handle any track condition we get at Randwick on Saturday. We are looking forward to the race."

Grand slam-winning hoop Jim Cassidy has picked up the ride on the Bart Cummings-trained Roman Emperor in the derby, while Chris Munce will ride Victoria's Big Col, which is trained by Peter Gelagotis and was paid up as a late entry.

David Payne will have two derby runners with Naval Escort (Tim Clark) and Buccaneers Prize (Rod Quinn) set to start.

"Buccaneers Prize is on the way up and he will run the trip right out," said Payne.

Meanwhile, world champion sprinter Takeover Target returned to the trial track at Warwick Farm yesterday morning to win his heat in the fastest time of the morning.

Takeover Target, a winner of 19 of 37 starts and more than $5.5 million in prizemoney, is set to resume from a spell in the group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 18 against the John O'Shea-trained star Racing To Win.

The three-day Inglis Easter Yearling Sale grossed $89 million with 369 horses going under the hammer. The clearance rate of 83 per cent was an improvement on a disappointing opening day on Sunday.

There were 74 pass-ins from the 500-strong catalogue, with 57 yearlings withdrawn. The average price was $241,355.

Yesterday's top price was $1.15 million for a Redoute's Choice filly out of former Canterbury Guineas winner Fine Society, with major players Darley securing the purchase.

Dean Watt of Dynamic Syndications was the successful bidder on the sales-topping Encosta De Lago colt on Monday, with the thoroughbred going under the hammer for $1.8m.

Victorian bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington also splurged $1m on one purchase yesterday, his buy an Encosta De Lago filly out of star mare Elegant Fashion.