Saturday's G1 South Australian Derby offers the country's later-maturing 3-year-olds an opportunity to notch a Group 1 victory, and Howard Be Thy Name (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) certainly fits that profile, having come on in leaps and bounds his last two outings for shrewd trainer Darren Weir. Howard Be Thy Name broke his maiden in his sixth start at Pakenham in Victoria Jan. 27 and, after shipping to Hobart to finish second in the Listed Tasmanian Derby, he won his next three starts, the latter two over this course: the Listed Adelaide Guineas Apr. 16 and the G3 Chairman's S. by an authoritative 2 1/2-lengths two weeks later, where he had Royal Rumble (Aus) (New Approach {Ire}) back in second.
Howard Be Thy Name is likely to face considerable competition from fellow Victorian shippers Cool Chap (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Charlevoix (Aus) (New Approach {Ire}). The former has done little wrong for Lee and Anthony Freedman, having finished on the board in all six starts this season, including a win over Etymology (Aus) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Listed Restricted VRC St Leger over 2800 metres last time Apr. 25. In his prior start, however, he was bested by Charlevoix in the 2400-metre Galilee Series Final at Sandown Apr. 9.
In addition to Etymology, Godolphin fields Tarquin (Aus) (Hard Spun) here. The bay gelding made no impact in a pair of group-race efforts earlier this season, however he has returned from a six-week freshening to win two of three, including a 2000-metre handicap at Caulfield Apr. 30.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
