The adage of not making decisions on race day has rung true for Cliff Brown and his Group 1 South Australian Derby hope Scintillante.
Soon after Scintillante crossed the line in the Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday, Brown was ready to pack his bags and head back to Melbourne.
But after watching back the replay of the race a number of times and looking at the sectionals of the Chairman’s Stakes, Brown has decided to stay on in Adelaide and take his chance with Scintillante in Saturday’s Group 1 race over 2500m at Morphettville.
Brown knows what it takes to win the South Australian Derby having taken the race with Cheviot in 1996, Markham (1997) and Blue Murder (2000) while Yaphet finished second in 2022 behind Jungle Magnate.
At his first trip to Adelaide, Scintillante finished a closing third in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) and on the strength of that performance was heavily supported to win the Chairman’s Stakes last week.
But the race did not pan out as expected for Brown and jockey Blake Shinn, and Scintillante beat only two runners’ home, finishing just over seven lengths from the winner Athanatos.
With Shinn electing to stay in Melbourne and ride at Caulfield on Saturday, Brown has called on Billy Egan to ride Scintillante on Saturday.
Egan, like Brown is a former South Australian Derby winner, guiding Dunkel to success in 2023.
“I think it is very rare that a horse to the eye runs so poorly and then a week later turns it around, but I think there are circumstances as to why he didn’t finish off like he could have,” Brown said.
“I watched the replay a few times and saw the speed that it was run at, and he actually ran pretty good sectionals.
“He ran the fourth quickest last 600 (metres), 400 and 200 of the race without getting any room.
“He’s came through the race well, and he’s had a fairly quiet week. I’ve done a blood on him, he’s done light some light work every day and he’s eaten up everything.
“Hopefully Billy can ride him a little closer in the run from the draw.”
