3 minute read
Saturday’s $300,000, Group 2 Drummond Gold Vase (2040m) at The Valley will continue the steep upward curve of John Thompson’s Battenburg (NZ) with the Reliable Man colt the $2.60 favourite, yet he is still a maiden runner after just four starts.
The grey colt, like his French Derby winning sire, is on an education path by Thompson with a Derby in mind, just that it is not the Victoria Derby at Flemington in two weeks, but the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick in April.
The trip to Melbourne is part of gaining the required experience and mental toughness for assaults on Derby's no matter where they are and Battenburg will have just the one start before returning to Sydney.
Thompson and bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage both liked the colt in the Westbury Stud draft at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale and Ramage signed the ticket at NZ$220,000.
"Just a cracking type, I liked the look of him and so did Duncan, so we bought him together and sold half each and the rest is history," said Thompson earlier this week at the Breakfast With The Stars at The Valley.
"We wanted to season him a bit, the aim is probably the autumn Derby, so we thought a trip away down here and the one run and then put him away for the autumn."
Battenburg raced for the first time back in May over 1400m at Newcastle for a sixth. A spell followed and Thompson produced him again for another sixth over 1400m on the Randwick-Kensington track on September 4th.
The colt was a narrow second to Lewis over 1550m at Canterbury on September 25th with Relucent (NZ) third. That Savabeel gelding was third in Wednesday's listed Geelong Classic over 2200m.
The there was the major step up to the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m at Randwick on October 12th and Battenburg nearly stole the show. He was run down by Shadow Hero, the current $2.50 TAB favourite for the Victoria Derby, and Group 1 winner Castelvecchio who races in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday.
"From day one he has always showed that he is a quality horse, but I have to say he raised the bar in that race, no doubt at all. He has gone from a Canterbury mid-week probably thinking we would win, but we got rolled there," said Thompson.
"Look, he is on an upward spiral. I think if he keeps improving the world is his oyster.
"He has settled in well and he is coming here this morning which will probably be a shock to his system, but that is what it is all about. Taking him out of his comfort zone and shocking him and then when he goes back home the little things should not worry him.
"A good draw always helps going the Melbourne way for the first time and any give in the track would enhance his chances as well," he said.
Thompson subsequently has both those conditions for Battenburg on Saturday, barrier two for James McDonald and rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday. Battenburg may return to Sydney with a win on his CV.
The Vase is Race 6 at 3.00pm.
