No Derby Danger For Gingernuts

Aiming to take the trans-Tasman G1 Derby double by adding Saturday's A$2million G1 Australian Derby to his New Zealand Derby victory two starts back, current race favourite Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) has proven himself at the distance and in the heavy conditions. Defeating G1 Randwick Guineas Inference (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) by over two lengths last start and the start prior to that in the G1 New Zealand Derby he inflicted an easy two plus length defeat over last start G2 Tulloch S. winner Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {Ire}), who he will meet here.

The last two winners of the race had started in the NZ Derby with Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) finishing 6th and Mongolian Khan (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) winning and there is no reason to think that New Zealand's 2400m staying test for 3-year-olds won't prove another great form reference here. Of the Australian raced division, you'd have to consider Inference based purely on the fact he was a Group 1 winner two starts back over what many consider an unsuitable 1600m and then when striking trouble behind Gingernuts in the Rosehill Guineas last start, the Hawkes Racing-trained colt continued to work home strongly.

A winner of the G1 Victorian Derby in the spring, the James Cummings-trained Prized Icon (Aus) (More Than Ready) has shown that he is not the best on wet ground, but a second last start behind Jon Snow over 2000m has connections pleased that if the track improves he can play his part in the finish.

Last start G2 Alister Clark S. winner Hardham (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was beaten close to seven lengths by Inference when they clashed in the Randwick Guineas before the colt headed back to his Melbourne-base where he produced the goods over 2040m. A full-brother to Group 1 winner King's Rose (Aus), a victory by Hardham in the Derby would add considerable gloss to the pedigree of his Exceed And Excel (Aus) (Danehill) three-quarter-sister who will sell at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as lot 267.