Derryn brushed off also-ran status in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes behind the world’s best sprinter Chautauqua to thrive among his age-group on day two of The Championships.
After finishing eighth of 15 in the TJ Smith, Derryn has backed up seven days later at Randwick to claim the Group Two $600,000 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).
Derryn ($8.50) notched his second win of this campaign by a length from Global Glamour ($3.70).
Impending ($7.50) finished 1-3/4 lengths away in third.
The track was upgraded to the soft range for the race, an improvement tailormade for Derryn despite winning the Darby Munro Stakes on a heavy surface.
“He revelled in the conditions,” said trainer David Hayes, who co-trains with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig.
“They back up so well on soft ground. He’s a horse that likes the jar out of the ground so you’ve got to take advantage of it when you get it.
“It’s one of the few we’ve had up here that really loves the ground.”
Jockey Mark Zahra, who earlier won the Group Two $600,000 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) on Shoal, said his only concern was whether Derryn could recover sufficiently from his exertions in the TJ Smith Stakes.
“He’s a promising colt. He’s got the class, it was just a matter of whether it didn’t take too much out of him the other day,” Zahra saud.
“Obviously Hayes just had him on the quick back-up and cherry ripe,” he said.
“We had a nice run from the wide gate with cover, it just panned out nice. I was able to hold him up then he he let go fantastic.”
