3 minute read
Strong Derby trials from Moroney duo; Voyage cruises; Wynning return;
Strong Derby trials from Moroney duo
Trainer Mike Moroney has two strong chances heading towards the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) with Arrogant and Chapada.
The pair finished second and third respectively in Saturday’s Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) with Arrogant pushing hype colt The Autumn Sun to within a head.
“They’re both lovely chances in the Derby I would have thought,” Moroney said.
“Arrogant ran a great race over a mile and a half in the New Zealand Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and didn’t get a lot of luck. I think the give in the ground here (in Sydney) is really going to help him too.
“Chapada was pretty luckless again on Saturday. He just got held up at the wrong time and he made really good ground.
“We’ve always thought after he was luckless in the VRC Derby (Gr.1, 2500) that the Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) is the right race for him.
“He seems to be really ticking over well.
“It will make for an interesting race. It would be nice to quinella it.”
Chapada is currently the $5 favourite for the Australian Derby, with Ocean Park colt Arrogant rated a $6-chance.
Voyage cruises
Voyage Warrior’s win in the Class 4 Pine Tree Hill Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday night has been lauded as one of the most impressive debut performances in recent memory in Hong Kong.
Bred by Bob Emery, Voyage Warrior is a half-brother to New Zealand stakes winner Speech Craft.
A graduate of both the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales and the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, Voyage Warrior was sold for $280,000 as a two-year-old to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu and a big debut performance had been expected.
Jockey Karis Teetan found the lead easily from the rail-side gate 14 and the inexperienced Declaration Of War gelding relished the trail-blazing role, with the chestnut eased down to win by four-lengths.
“The horse showed a great turn-of-foot and he’s done nothing wrong so far. He’s a very exciting horse to progress,” Yiu said after his charge had stopped the clock at 56.65s, with a final 400m split of 22.67s.
“They’ll give him a double-digit rise in rating so he’ll go into Class 3 now but if I keep running him over the thousand (metres) he will win a couple more, at least. He just needs to learn to settle – that will make him a better horse,” Yiu said.
“He’s still green, he’s still learning. He was running around a little bit towards the last furlong and the jockey got a little bit excited and dropped his stick – but he didn't need it anyway.”
Wynning return
Southern jockey Samantha Wynne made a winning return to the saddle on Saturday aboard Diorissimo at Riccarton.
The Irish-born rider had been on the sidelines since August after undergoing surgery on her anterior cruciate ligament after injuring her knee at Wingatui last May.
Wynne was ecstatic to get the victory and said she had missed riding on race day.
“You don’t know how much it means to you until it’s half taken away,” she said.
“It was brilliant being back in the winners’ enclosure and hopefully there are many more to come.”
Wynne has enjoyed being back in the saddle and was delighted with all the support she has received.
“I have had some great support and I won’t forget the people who have been there for me throughout,” she said.
“I have had some very loyal people and I am very grateful for the support I have been getting.
“Hopefully I can repay them by riding lots of winners.”
