Storm Leopard puts himself into the Derby conversation

Star jockey Tommy Berry offered to pay the $44,000 late entry fee to secure Storm Leopard a start in the ATC Australian Derby after a dominant staying effort in the Group 2 $300,000 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“I’ll offer to pay the late entry if they want,” Berry said.

“He’s so clean winded, he’s a real stayer. The team has done a great job with him, bringing him here in such great order.

“I only got on for the first time today so thanks to the Hayes boys for the opportunity and looking forward to hopefully riding him in the Derby.”

Trainer Ben Hayes revealed that Storm Leopard was in the original entries for the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick next Saturday but had decided earlier in the gelding’s preparation against paying the first acceptance fee.

“We took him out of the ‘noms’ and were looking at the South Australian Derby but we changed plans (again) because he started to go so well,” Hayes said.”It will be a discussion we need about next week but if he pulls up well, it’s definitely something that will be considered. It is a good problem to have.”

Storm Leopard ($4.20) enjoyed the fast tempo before seizing control of the race half-way down the straight and racing clear to win by nearly two lengths.

Eureka Rebel ($81) also produced a very good Derby trial, closing off nicely for second while early leader Shangri La Boy ($5) held on for third.

The race was marred with the catastrophic injury to the near-foreleg of favourite Arcora ($2.40) who broke down mid-race.

Racing NSW stewards interviewed Arcora’s jockey Nash Rawiller and trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young before revealing the colt was put down.

Rawiller, who showed great horsemanship to ease Arcora out of the race, said the colt’s action “felt amazing”.

“He got into a lovely rhythm during the race – this came out of nowhere,” Rawiller said.

Busuttin told stewards Arcora had done everything right leading into the Tulloch Stakes and was the “soundest horse you could ever find”.

Hayes had a classy response when interviewed by media immediately after Storm Leopard’s win.

“I feel for the connections of Arcora,” was Hayes’s first comment. “You never want to see that happen.”

Berry said he was concerned for Rawiller and Arcora when it was obvious the colt had broken down badly.

“My mind was on Nash (Rawiller – on retired runner Arcora) to make sure he was alright,” Berry said.”But then you’ve got to make sure you focus up again.”

Berry said Storm Leopard won with a “lot of authority” even though the chestnut did run about in the straight.

“Storm Leopard got to the leader very quickly and was left in front a long way from home,” Berry said.

“I would’ve loved to have something challenge him halfway down the straight because he felt like he was floating where he was.

“I had enough looks to make it as soft as I could late just in case he had to back up. He’s trained by a bunch of gentlemen that send their horses to Sydney in such great order so if they decided to go that way it wouldn’t be an issue.”

Storm Leopard is now a chance to become the 10th to complete the Tulloch Stakes-ATC Australian Derby double after Quick Thinker (2020), Angel Of Truth (2019), Levendi (2018), Jon Snow (2017), Starcraft (2004), Ivory’s Irish (1995), Mahogany (1994), Durbridge (1991) and Prolific (1984),

TAB Fixed Odds didn’t have Storm Leopard in the Derby betting before the Tulloch Stakes as the gelding wasn’t nominated but put him at $4.50 behind only equal $3.50 favourites Observer and Green Spaces.

Trainer Matthew Smith was delighted with the Derby trials of runner-up Eureka Rebel and fifth placegetter Dezignation.”Both horses are strong, young stayers and as long as they pull up well, I would like them to back up in the Derby,” Smith said.

Kerrin McEvoy, rider of Eureka Rebel, said the gelding won’t have a problem staying the Derby distance next Saturday.

“He ran really well,” McEvoy said. “I didn’t jump like we thought but he got a nice trip around and he goes to Randwick to enjoy the 2400m,” McEvoy said.

Adam Hyeronimus, rider of Shangri La Boy, ran a better race in the Tulloch for third but was still “doing things upside down.”

“That is not the best version of him,” Hyeronimus said. “The best version of him is jump and relax in front then show his sharp turn of foot.”