134th New Zealand Derby - Feb 29, 2009

[_ed_]

LE BARON
Gelding
Zabeel - Dame Mapperley

Trainer: Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs

Starts: 7
1st: 3
2nd: 1
3rd: 2
Earnings: $134,015

1st Great Northern Guineas (G2)
1st Guineas Prelude


Le Baron (outside - blue, black and green) surging to the lead from the back of the field in the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Videos:
Great Northern Guineas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0E9250t9mQ

Route to the Derby:
Championship Stakes at Ellerslie, Feb 14.

Derby Futures: 5-1 (fav)

PROS:
- Undefeated in 2 starts beyond a mile
- Loads of stamina in the pedigree
- 2 stakes wins at Ellerslie, which is of course where the Derby is

CONS:
- Only 8th, without excuses, in his resuming run on January 25th. It was only over a mile, but he should have done better than that.

[my miss storm cat]

Oh my God, ed... this is so cool. Thanks for all the time you're putting into this.

[_ed_]

Updates:
- Jungle Boots won easily today, he's in the top 18 on earnings now
- Sun Ruler only 3rd at Avondale yesterday - unlikely to make the field
- Tell A Tale was heroic today, 2nd in a G1 against older horses and suffering an injury in the race. Possible stress fracture. Hope he's ok.

Anyway, on to Easy Ryder.

EASY RYDER
Gelding
Brilliance - Ledahead

Starts: 4
1st: 2
2nd: 1
3rd: 0
Earnings: $52,935

1st Waikato Guineas (G3)


Winning the Waikato Guineas.

Videos:
Waikato Guineas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPverN-DjFI

Random Fact:
He was sold for $500 as a yearling!

Route to the Derby:
Probably straight to the Derby without another race.

Derby Futures: 9-1 (5th fav)

PROS:
- Strong win over 2000m in the Waikato Guineas.
- Distance should be no problem

CONS:
- Never raced at Ellerslie, or at any clockwise track.
- Stable rates Jungle Boots higher.

[_ed_]

JUNGLE BOOTS
Gelding
Jungle Pocket - Special Jade

Starts: 5
1st: 3
2nd: 1
3rd: 0
Earnings: $45,662

2nd Guineas Prelude

Route to the Derby:
No more starts before Derby

Derby futures: 5-1 (equal fav)

PROS:
- Amazing turn of foot
- Distance should be fine

CONS:
- Hasn't really faced top company yet
- Does so much wrong - in his win yesterday he was looking at people in the stands all the way. He can't do that in the Derby and win.

[_ed_]

GALLANT
Gelding
Volksraad - Limerick

Starts: 3
1st: 2
2nd: 0
3rd: 0
Earnings: $15,625

Route to the Derby:
Championship Stakes at Ellerslie, Feb 14

Derby futures: 9-1 (5th fav)

PROS:
- Looks super talented
- Pedigree packed with stamina

CONS:
- Hasn't faced any really good horses yet
- Needs to run well in the Championship Stakes to make the Derby field.

[_ed_]

Update on Tell A Tale: Only a minor muscle tweak, he's still going to the Derby.

Anyway...

THE MEISTA
Gelding
Montjeu - Zablinka

Starts: 9
1st: 3
2nd: 3
3rd: 1
Earnings: $64,900

2nd Waikato Guineas (G3)
3rd Wellington Stakes (G3)

Route to the Derby:
Championship Stakes at Ellerslie, Feb 14

Derby futures: 10-1 (7th fav)

PROS:
- Great turn of foot
- Amazing stamina-filled pedigree (Montjeu, Zabeel mare)
- Proven against top horses

CONS:
- Never raced clockwise before.

[_ed_]

COURT RULER
Gelding
Viking Ruler - Free Court

Starts: 9
1st: 2
2nd: 0
3rd: 3
Earnings: $67,350


Court Ruler in his 28-1 upset win against older horses in the G3 Trentham Stakes.

Videos:
Trentham Stakes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a0BFLtGa6U

PROS:
Stakes winner over Derby distance.

CONS:
- Questionable field.
- Very poor form prior.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Update on Tell A Tale: Only a minor muscle tweak, he's still going to the Derby.

Does this worry you?