Not since 2009 and Bart Cummings’ Roman Emperor has a home-state runner saluted in the Group 1 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick. So what the heck is going on with NSW’s three-year-old stayers?
14 of the 18 horses in this year’s renewal are trained in the state, so the odds clearly favour the New South Welsh runners. Or do they?
While the market is spearheaded by David Payne-trained Criterion at about $3.50, a Kiwi rising star in Puccini is second favourite with most bookies, and Queenslander Teronado isn’t far behind.
That the Kiwis have pinched this race twice in the last six years shouldn’t be lost on punters. Puccini is trained by Peter McKay in Matamata, New Zealand. The Encosta De Lago colt scored a glorious two-length win in the New Zealand Derby last month, completing a hat-trick of wins after capturing the Waikato Guineas and the Avondale Guineas.
While Puccini finished well down the track at his Australian debut (12th of 15 in the Rosehill Guineas, beaten 12 lengths by Criterion), the feeling among most punters and bookmakers is the Kiwi will be much better for the hit-out, the extra 400m, and the brilliant Craig Williams in the saddle.
Teronado is also considered a live chance to spoil the celebrations among locals. The Gold Coaster is single digits with most bookmakers to give the Queenslanders their fourth Derby in 12 years. Just for State of Origin interests’ sake, he will be ridden by Victorian-based Tasmanian rider Craig Newitt.
The Derby, now a key race in The Championships, has long been a jewel in the crown for three-year-old staying features in Australia. The honour roll of Derby champions includes some of the all-time greats of the Australian turf, with the legendary Phar Lap, the mighty Tulloch and superstar Kingston Town the most-decorated winners.
Since 2002, however, the State of Origin scoreboard for the race has the home side only narrowly ahead, with five winners from NSW (Roman Emperor 2009, Fiumicino 2007, Headturner 2006, Eremein 2005 and Clangalang 2003), three to Victoria (Ethiopia 2012, Shamrocker 2011 and Don Eduardo 2002), two to Queensland (Shoot Out 2010 and Starcraft 2004) and two to the Kiwis (It’s A Dundeel 2013 and Nom De Jeu 2008).
So while the New South Welsh runners again completely dominate the field in terms of starting numbers, two of the top four combatants with bookmakers are visitors.
And with the extra spice of a wet track on Saturday, who’s to say a Victorian in the form of David Hayes-trained Surging Wave or another Queenslander in Solo Saga can’t blow everyone’s quaddie out of the water?
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