Dream on Hitotsu, $2m Bentley Australian Derby is where dreams come true, at Royal Randwick’s Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, also Day 1 of The Star Championships.
‘Where Stories are Made,’ it’s the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Hitotsu who’s $3.50 fav. with Ladbrokes, again with John Allen in the irons, having last won the Australian Guineas.
To be run over the classic 2400m, he defeated the Zoustar colt Lightsaber by ½ length at Flemington over 1600m, having earlier run fifth of seven in a Cranbourne trial, following a 14 week spell.
However, it’s that Cranbourne trail winner Forgot You, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young who’s a $6.50 second pick for the Australian Derby, having been third in the Rosehill Guineas.
Originally trained by Wendy Kelly at Cranbourne, and in three starts at two years he was sixth to Lightsaber in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes of 1400m, before transferring the Ciaron Maher.
First up from a 27 week spell Hitotsu scored in a 1350m Maiden Plate at Donald as the $1.24 race favourite, before finishing a credible fifth in the Caulfield Guineas, prior to the Victoria Derby.
Irishman John Allen had Hitotsu racing mid-field on the fence in the Guineas, and ridden hard into the straight, he continued to make ground along the inside, with Anamoe defeating Captivant.
In a ‘pulsating’ Victoria Derby of 2500m, John Allen had Hitotsu racing near last into the straight, and making his move at the 400m, he gained the lead at the 100m to defeat Alegron by 1¾ lengths.
Purchased by Wendy Kelly Racing for $100,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud, Hitotsu races in the highly successful Navy Blue and Light Yellow silks of John O’Neill.
With Hitotsu being Japanese for ‘one, one of something’ he’s the best of his Japan 2015 Horse of The Year sire Maurice, who is second leading Second Crop Sire and standing at Arrowfield Stud.
Also the best produce of his unraced Redoubt’s Choice dam Love Is Fickle, a half- sister to Gr2 winner Love Conquers All and She’s Meaner the dam of duel Gr2 winner Lean Mean Machine.
In fact, Ciaron Maher purchased Hitotsu’s half-sister by the popular Shalaa for $250,000 at the 2022 Premier Yearling Sale, with the grandam She’s A Meanie having won the Avondale Gold Cup.
A Hitotsu victory would make for consecutive Bentley Australian Derby victory’s for Ciaron Maher and Davis Eustace as they won last year with Explosive Jack, also brilliantly ridden by John Allen.
They would be the only training partnership to score two Bentley Australian Derby victories, equal to Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman who won with Quick Thinker in 2020 and Jon Snow 2017.
Murray Baker had also won with Mongolian Khan in 2015, Just A Dundeel in 2013 and Nom de Jeu in 2008, the equal of Bart Cummings and Tom Payten with five, and the great TJ Smith on 9.
This would also make jockey John Allen the first since Darren Beadman in 2006 and 2007 with consecutive Bentley Australian Derby victory, with Darren Beadman first winning in 1996.
In addition, Explosive Jack is the only Tasmanian Derby winner to also win the Bentley Australian Derby, and next won the South Australian Derby then finishing third in the Queensland Derby.
However, its world standard Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival 2022 media guide that replays Explosive Jack’s ‘nose’ victory, and ‘tells all’ with Kyogle winning in 1861 and Octagonal the fastest.
Born as the “Australian Jockey Club Derby, The Blue Riband of The Turf” some 40 years ago when Strawberry Road won AJC Derby in 1983, and the filly Skating with the Doncaster Handicap.
Today sees the 4yo mare Forbidden Love, Jamie Kah in 14, as $4.40 fav. for the big betting $3m The Star Doncaster Mile of 1600m, ahead of I’m Thunderstruck at $6 and the 3yo Converge $9.
Again, it’s Nature Strip at $2.70 and Eduardo $3.60 who lead-out the TJ Smith Stakes of 1200m, with the Golden Slipper winner Fireburn at $2.35 and Daumier $8.50 for the Inglis Sires at 1400m.
Godolphin’s Rosehill Guineas hero Anamoe leads the $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting at $3.60, ahead of All-Star Mile winner Zaaki on $4.40, Verry Elleegant at $4.80 and Duais $5.
