Quick profiles of The Grinner and the rest of the field...
ADDICTIVE HABIT
Trainer: Lee Somervell
3 g Colombia - Chasing The Habit
10 starts; 1 win, 4 seconds, 0 thirds
Good seconds to Habibi in two G2 races in December-January (here's a replay of one of them:
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but disappointing in his last two. Seems to prefer rain-affected tracks.
KING KAMADA
Trainer: Lisa Latta
3 g Shinko King - Marsanne
9 starts; 1 win, 2 seconds, 3 thirds
Stakes placed at Ellerslie over 2100m in December (
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but he hasn't really developed since then the way I thought he might. Really expected him to win his last couple of races if he was going to be a real Derby contender.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Trainer: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
3 c Iffraaj - Dance On The Moon
10 starts; 1 win, 0 seconds, 2 thirds
I really liked this horse at the time of his 3rd to Habibi in the Championship Stakes (
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but again, he hasn't done enough since then to really catch my eye.
CORPORAL LINCOLN
Trainer: Lisa Latter
3 g Fastnet Rock - Salsa
7 starts; 1 win, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
Well-bred, and a good maiden win three starts back before an OK ninth in the Karaka Mile. Needs to lift his game, though.
DUBAI SHUFFLE
Trainer: Gareth McRae & Andrew Clarken
3 g Dubai Destination - Musical Magic
4 starts; 1 win, 0 seconds, 1 third
Nice win at Ellerslie last start (
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but that was just a maiden. Big step up here!
SAINT KITT
Trainer: Kelly Burne
3 g Keeper - Southern Cry
9 starts; 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
He's keeps giving nice performances, but they've all been in much weaker company than this.
CELTIC CHIEF
Trauner: Shaune Ritchie
3 g Golan - Divine Proportion
5 starts; 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
Caught the eye with his fast-finishing 5th in the Waikato Guineas (
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), and he was OK when 6th in the Avondale Guineas too. If he finds another couple of lengths, he could cause a massive upset.
THE GRINNER
Trainer: Stephen McKee
3 g O'Reilly - The Grin (so a full-sister to dual G1 winner The Jewel, and G2 winners Star Affair and The One)
4 starts; 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Broke through for a maiden win last start, and it was an impressive performance (
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx). He's one of the best-bred horses in the field, and the distance should be no problem. But, like with Dubai Shuffle, it's a big step up from a maiden to the Derby.
KIDWELLY
Trainer: Michael Moroney & Chad Ormsby
3 f Dylan Thomas - Maakel
9 starts; 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds
Trained by 3-time Derby winner Moroney (Great Command 1996, Cut The Cake 2003, Xcellent 2004), this filly has looked pretty good in some strong 3yo fillies company this season. But she just can't quite get past Fix, and I'm not sure she's ever going to be able to turn the tables on that filly. But the distance is definitely going to suit.