Don't have photos for all of these, sorry!
FAST DRAGON
colt
Fastnet Rock – Secret Silence
Owner: Able International (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Bruce Wallace (no Derby wins)
Rider: Johnathon Parkes (no Derby wins)
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 12:1-0-2
Stakes races:
1st Champagne Stakes (L,2yo)
3rd Karaka Mile (L)
3rd Trevor Eagle Memorial (L)
4th Championship Stakes (G2)
6th Avondale Guineas (G2)
Hasn’t been able to repeat his impressive stakes win as a 2-year-old, but he’s produced some useful performances this season. It’s just a bit hard to see him turning around the 7-length margin Puccini beat him by in their last meeting, and his pedigree has some question marks around stamina – his brother Albany Reunion is a very speedy, stakes-placed sprinter.
Odds: 60-1
KENTUCKY SON
gelding
Civics – Southern Triumph
Owner: S Boshier, M Cunningham, P Dobson, J & A Parnwell (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Lee Somervell (no Derby wins)
Rider: Trudy Thornton (no Derby wins)
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 12:2-1-2
Stakes races:
4th Trevor Eagle Memorial (L)
9th Great Northern Guineas (G2)
15th Waikato Guineas (G2)
15th Avondale Guineas (G2)
Those yellow silks of the Parnwell-Somervell combination have had some great moments at Ellerslie, most notably the Group 1 Railway win by top mare Fleur de Lune. It’s hard to see them adding another one here. This horse has finished last in both the Waikato Guineas and Avondale Guineas. He did a lot better last weekend back down in rating 75 grade, but this looks like too big a mountain to climb.
Odds: 100-1
MR FRANKEY
gelding
Towkay – Franchice
Owner: K Dixon, P Finlayson, L Latta, M Masters, M Passey, A Rennie & T Tomlins (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Lisa Latta (no Derby wins)
Rider: Sam Spratt (no Derby wins)
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:1-1-2
No stakes races.
An admirable model of consistency in lower grades – never further back than fifth in his seven starts – this is a daunting first crack at stakes level for the son of Towkay. Two starts ago he finished within a length of leading Oaks prospect Chop Chop, and last time out he was right up behind Habitual Offender, so there’s some ability there. He could finish in the top half of the field, but it’s hard to see Mr Frankey providing a first Derby triumph to Lisa Latta and Sam Spratt.
Odds: 50-1
CHIPANDCHASE
gelding
Pentire – Charmaine (Pentire sired 2004 Derby winner Xcellent. Charmaine is the dam of stakes-placed Charma)
Owner: B Devine, Sir Colin & Lady Meads, T Moore, M & E Oram, C Robertson, N & J Toy, A & N Walters (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Stephen Marsh (no Derby wins)
Rider: Noel Harris (Hail 2000)
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:1-1-0
Stakes races:
8th Championship Stakes (G2)
10th Karaka Mile (L)
14 years ago, Noel Harris won the Derby aboard Hail for trainer Bruce Marsh. This time he’s riding a Derby hope for another Marsh – Bruce’s son Stephen. But this gelding seems less well-credentialed, with only a maiden win and a rating 65 second to show for his seven starts so far. Stephen Marsh and part-owner/legendary former rugby player Colin Meads combined for a Group 1 win during this week last year with Ruud Awakening, but there’s been little to suggest Chipandchase is a serious chance of making lightning strike twice.
Odds: 50-1
THE FIRE INSIDE
filly
Sir Percy – Burning Desire (from the first crop of Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy)
Owner: Betalert Ltd, I McCarrison, P Moroney, J Vaughan & G Williams (McCarrison and Moroney won the 2004 Derby with Xcellent; Moroney also won in 2003 with Cut The Cake)
Trainer: Mike Moroney (Great Command 1996, Cut The Cake 2003, Xcellent 2004) & Chad Ormsby
Rider: Mark Sweeney (no Derby wins)
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 6:2-1-2
Stakes races:
3rd Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (G2)
Ran a terrific race to finish third, two lengths behind Hera and pellbinder, in the Sir Tristram. Looks likely to thrive over the testing 2400m. Could be more of a chance in this than many are giving her credit for.
Odds: 25-1
SIR LANCELOT
gelding
Stravinsky – Shall We Dance (so a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Pulcinella)
Owner: C & L Betts (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Jeff McVean (Leica Guv 2001) & Emma-Lee Browne
Rider: TO BE CONFIRMED
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 8:1-0-1
Stakes races:
11th Great Northern Guineas (G2)
Needs one scratching to make the field. He’s run a couple of decent races, but hasn’t really shown enough to be considered a huge chance in this.
Odds: 80-1
VALDIVIA
gelding
Don Eduardo – Just Polly (Don Eduardo, still the all-time record for most expensive yearling ever sold in NZ at $3.4m, won the Derby in Sydney as a 3-year-old)
Owner: JML Bloodstock & M Wyborn (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Mike Moroney (Great Command 1996, Cut The Cake 2003, Xcellent 2004) & Chad Ormsby
Rider: TO BE CONFIRMED
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 5:1-0-0
Stakes races:
5th Waikato Guineas (G2)
Needs two scratchings to make the field. Ran an excellent race at massive odds in the Waikato Guineas, finishing just 3.2 lengths behind Puccini. Seemed to be peaking at the right time and about to do something special to thrust his way into the Derby field, but finished a hugely disappointing seventh in weaker company next time out. But he’d be an intriguing runner if he ran up to the Waikato Guineas level again.
Odds: 50-1
IN A MINUTE
gelding
Spartacus – Mintelle
Owner: D Karreman/The Oaks Stud (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Ralph Manning (no Derby wins)
Rider: TO BE CONFIRMED
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 4:1-1-0
No stakes races
Needs three scratchings to make the field. In 2006 The Oaks Stud came so close to Derby glory with Roman Chariot, beaten only by determined front-runner Wahid. They haven’t come as close since. This year looked like being their best chance with exciting 3-year-old All Torn Up, but that fell apart in a pre-race disaster at the Waikato Guineas that saw him come out of that race and off the Derby trail. Talented gelding In A Minute is his replacement, and his performances so far suggest he’s not quite at the same level. A well-beaten eighth behind Habitual Offender last time out.
Odds: 80-1
TOKOMUTU JUDGE
gelding
Volksraad – Shock (Volksraad sired 2010 Derby winner Military Move. Shock was a stakes performer herself)
(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 11:1-2-1
No stakes races
Needs an extremely unlikely four scratchings to make the field, and best performances have been on slow to heavy ground. Not likely to figure.
Odds: 125-1