THE ATC AUSTRALIAN DERBY
2400m, $2 million, set weights
HISTORY
* First run in 1861 and won by Kyogle, the Derby is firmly established as the No.1 three-year-old Classic in the country.
* Past winners include Grand Flaneur (1880), Poseidon (1906), Gloaming (1918), Heroic (1924), Phar Lap (1929), Peter Pan (1932), Hall Mark (1933), Tea Rose (1944), Tulloch (1957), Silver Sharpe (1970), Classic Mission (1971), Imagele (1973), Dulcify (1979), Kingston Town (1980), Strawberry Road (1983), Bonecrusher (1986), Beau Zam (1988), Research (1989), Naturalism (1992), Mahogany (1994), Octagonal (1996).
* The late TJ Smith holds training honours with nine winners: Playboy (1949), Tulloch (1957), Summer Prince (1962), Summer Fiesta (1963), Prince Grant (1965), Silver Sharpe (1970), Imagele (1973), Great Lover (1976) and Kingston Town (1980).
* Champion jockey Tommy Hales holds the record for riding the most winners: Richmond (1875), Grand Flaneur (1880), Navigator (1882), Bargo (1884), Trident (1886) and Abercorn (1887).
TALKING POINTS
* Gingernuts could be the fourth horse in history to win the Australian Derby and New Zealand Derby double, following Mongolian Khan (2015), Bonecrusher (1986) and Gloaming (1918).
* Tommy Berry, Opie Bosson and Hugh Bowman are the only jockeys riding this year to experience Derby victory. Berry rode last year’s winner Tavago, Bosson won with Mongolian Khan (2015) and Bowman had success with Criterion (2014).
* There are no fillies in this year’s race. The Derby has been historically dominated by colts and geldings as most three-year-old fillies contest the Australian Oaks the following week. In the past 27 years Shamrocker (2011) has been the only filly to win. In 1989 champion filly Research won the Derby and the Oaks four days later.
WHAT CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING
“Our horse is going to go into the race off the three-week back-up and have a very solid grounding to be able to be at his best at 2400 metres” – trainer James Cummings on Prized Icon.
“Obviously it’s a lot stronger race this week but we think he’s strengthened up, and he doesn’t mind wet conditions” -co-trainer Murray Baker on Tulloch Stakes winner Jon Snow.
“He has in previous starts been slow away from the barrier so it’s probably on the horse’s head to see how we go. If he jumps well we’d like to try and take a spot, if he jumps bad you’ve just got to go back and hopefully get in the clear in plenty of time” – Jamie Richards on favourite Gingernuts.
