There is a school of thought that class can carry a three-year-old a long way in a Derby, even if they’re not a genuine stayer, while others believe stamina will always be the trump card in a classic.
Jockey Tommy Berry reckons the truth sits somewhere in the middle, and that his ATC Australian Derby (2400m) mount Storm Leopard has the ideal blend of both.
“They need to stay, but you talk about any stayer, whether in a Derby or a Melbourne Cup, they’ve got that bit of brilliance as well,” Berry said.
“The two other favourites in the race – Green Spaces looks to have the stamina, and Observer looks to have the brilliance – but have they got both?
“Hopefully, my bloke does, which we feel he does. If he can show his turn of foot at the end of 2400 metres, it’s going to take him a long way.”
Trained in Victoria by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, Storm Leopard made his Sydney debut in the Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday and posted a dominant win.
It was Berry’s first ride on the three-year-old, who he felt did a great job to find the line strongly after being forced to chase a long way out when a rival runner sadly broke down near the 1000m, allowing the leader to skip away.
That power at the finish has given Berry confidence Storm Leopard can deliver him a second Sydney Derby victory, 10 years after he captured his first on Tavago.
“I thought I’d be vulnerable late, but he was so strong through the line, and I eased him down,” Berry said.
“That gave me a lot of confidence to say to the boys, if you want to back him up I thought he’d have no problem with the distance.
“The team was never going to run him here if he didn’t pull up well. They’re a great team of trainers, the Hayes boys, and if they’re backing him up he’s obviously in good order.”
Storm Leopard ($5) is one of eight rides for Berry at Randwick, six of them at single-figure odds including the emerging Profoundly ($5) in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
Profoundly finished an outstanding third from a wide draw in the Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) and Berry is hoping she can win on Saturday and put her hand up for the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) seven days later.
“She was four-wide, no cover at Kembla and was really strong through the line,” Berry said.
“This is her chance, a bit like Storm Leopard (last week), to win her way into an Oaks.
“She has drawn well where last time she didn’t . . . and she is a great chance in what looks to be a strong edition of the race.”
