BLIZZARD
gelding
Any Suggestion – Deune
Owner: McVean Racing Ltd, A Moore, C & L Betts, A Gore, D & P Fullerton, W A & N M Bishop
Trainer: Jeff McVean (Leica Guv 2001) & Emma-Lee Browne
Rider: Opie Bosson (no Derby wins)
$35,000 purchase at the National Yearling Sale.
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 10:1-2-0
Stakes races:
2nd Championship Stakes (G2)
6th Waikato Guineas (G2)
7th Avondale Guineas (G2)
Finished powerfully into second place, just a head behind Show The World, in the G2 Championship Stakes on Jan 1. His last two races haven’t been as good – beaten by 5.1 lengths and 7.6 lengths – but the way he finishes seems like he’s got the stamina to still be going strongly at the end of the gruelling 2400m of the Derby. He may not have the class of some of the others, but he could outlast them. It’s hard to see him winning, but he could definitely place.
Odds: opened at 40-1; now 17-1.
DELAGO’S SECRET
gelding
Encosta de Lago – Divine Secret
Owner: R S Baulcomb & J B Struthers (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Roger James (Tidal Light 1986, Roysyn 1995, Zonda 1997, Hades 1999, Silent Achiever 2012)
Rider: NOT CONFIRMED
$180,000 purchase at the National Yearling Sale.
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:2-1-1
Stakes races:
9th Avondale Guineas (G2)
The definition of a late-developer. This guy was a maiden until Jan 17. He added a second win on the Waikato Sprint undercard on Feb 8, propelling him into the top 18 and into a whole lot of fans’ lists of Derby picks. His reputation was dented the following week when he finished ninth, 8.4 lengths behind Puccini, in the Avondale Guineas. But he should possibly be forgiven for that failure. Five-time Derby-winning trainer Roger James usually spaces his horses’ races out, and agonised over the decision to run this gelding twice in a week. But he decided he needed to, because the horse needed a run around two turns before the Derby. That seven-day turnaround must have been a shock to the system for the horse, whose other races have been far more evenly spaced. Don’t be surprised if he runs a far better race in the Derby than he did in the Avondale Guineas. It’s worth noting, though, that Vinnie Colgan – who rode Delago’s Secret in his last two races – has opted to ride Stand Your Ground in the Derby.
Odds: opened at 80-1; now 20-1.