Craig Newitt didn’t hesitate in predicting Hvasstan could turn his fortunes around in Saturday’s Australian Derby after a Rosehill Guineas run rated too bad to be true.
But whether the Victorian-based colt turns it around enough to defeat odds-on favourite It’s A Dundeel is still a question mark for Newitt.
Hvasstan headed to Sydney for the Rosehill Guineas on the back of an Alister Clark Stakes win and with confidence high.
By the end of the race, Newitt said he and the colt’s connections had been “knocked on our backsides” as Hvasstan beat just one runner home, 13 lengths behind It’s A Dundeel.
The Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick is a chance at redemption.
“No risk he can turn it around,” Newitt said.
“The favourite (It’s A Dundeel) is going to be a tough nut to crack but my bloke’s run the other day, you’ve just got to put a pen through it.
“It was just too bad to be true.
“The Gelagotis team have assured me he has trained on well so we’ll ride him a lot more quieter this week and I’m sure we’ll get a lot different result.”
If Hvasstan causes an upset and wins the Derby it would be the biggest turnaround, in terms of placings, since Fairway finished ninth in the Rosehill Guineas 13 years ago before winning the Derby at his next start.
