Bred to Win the Derby

The Group I ATC Australian Derby run at Randwick on Saturday is worth $2million and has drawn a full field of 18 runners, so lets look at who is bred to win it.

1/ Ace High (3c High Chaparral (IRE) x Come Sunday, by Redoute's Choice)

His sire won the Epsom Derby and is a renowned source of classic stamina, while his unraced dam is by champion sire Redoute's Choice from a daughter of Sunday Silence that won up to 2000 metres. He's already won the Victoria Derby at 2500m, so staying prowess is unquestioned.

2/ Vin De Dance (NZ) (3g Roc de Cambes x Explosive Dancer, by San Luis)

Won the New Zealand Derby at 2400m so is proven at the trip and has a diverse pedigree, his sire a Kiwi bred stakes-winner in Japan up to 2200 metres and his dam tracing back to an old Australian speed family. He's not fashionably bred, but he has the runs on the board.

3/ Tangled (3c Snitzel x Bramble Rose, by Shinko King (IRE)

Champion sire Snitzel is yet to sire a Derby or Oaks winner, but Tangled could possibly change that given his dam Bramble Rose won the NZ Oaks and he has two siblings that both won stakes races at 2000m. It's plain to see that mum has had more input in this horse than dad, so he's entitled to respect although he struggled in the Victoria Derby to finish 11th.

4/ Mongolianconqueror (NZ) (3g Ocean Park x Queen Rania, by The Jogger (USA))

Second in the New Zealand Derby so has form at the distance and is by a Cox Plate winner, but his immediate female family lacks class and hardly screams stayer. That said, you could draw a really long bow and say his fifth dam Amusement Park is also the grand-dam of Denise's Joy, which is a true fact, but one unlikely to have a bearing on the outcome of this race!

5/ Capital Gain (3g Ad Valorem (USA) x Zuzao, by Delzao)

Won the Group I BRC JJ Atkins Stakes at two over 1600 metres, but has done nothing since and pedigree does not suggest staying long distances will be his forte.

6/ Levendi (3c Pierro x Lipari, by Redoute's Choice)

Won the Group III VRC Carbine Club in the spring over 1600m, but has been trained as a stayer this preparation with encouraging results. Dam is by a champion sire from Group I Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder and the same family has already produced an Australian Derby winner in Roman Emperor. Pierro sired Pinot to win the VRC Oaks and Levendi could easily make it a Classic double for the Golden Slipper winning sire.

7/ Astoria (3c Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Segue, by Ad Valorem)

By an outstanding sire from the immortal Eight Carat family that has given us too many Group I winners to name including AJC Derby heroes Octagonal and Don Eduardo and last weeks G1 winner Hiyaam. He was third in the Victoria Derby and seems a stronger horse now so has to be a winning hope.

8/ Furore (NZ) (3g Pierro x Stormy Choice, by Redoute's Choice)

Lightly raced and keeps stepping up through the grades. Bred on the same cross as Levendi and while he's a half-brother to a stakes-winning HK sprinter in Blizzard, there is plenty of staying blood through his female family. Mum is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Brisbane Cup winner Danestorm, while Australian Oaks winner Danendri is another close relation. Nothing not to like.

9/ Salsamor (NZ) (3c Tavistock x Hula Bar, by Al Akbar

By a renowned Derby sire that has left us Tarzino, Tavago and Werther and his dam is by the same dam sire as Winx in Al Akbar. He has Sir Tristram in his female line which is a big winner with Tavistock, so pedigree won't be what's stopping him winning a Derby.

10/ Weather With You (3g Teofilo (IRL) x Tarique, by Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)

Trained by Kiwis in Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, who have a great record in the Aussie classics and this fellow is certainly bred to be here. By the sire of Humidor and Happy Clapper, Weather With You is from a half-sister to Group II winner Pasta Express, who won up to 2800 metres and his second dam is by renowned staying sire Nassipour (USA). Was only eighth in the Victoria Derby, but could easily improve on that here.

11/ The Lord Mayor (NZ) (3g Rock 'n' Pop x Soph, by Lord Ballina

By Rock'n' Pop, a young son of Fastnet Rock from Derby winner Popsy that is yet to sire a stakes-winner, but this gelding is bred to get a trip as dam was a stakes-placed stayer that won up to 2200 metres and her full sister Titch won an Auckland Cup. Fourth in the New Zealand Derby encouraging, but would have to improve on his Rosehill Guineas effort.

12/ Mission Hill (3g Teofilo (IRE) x Aypebe, by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)

Another trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and was sixth in the New Zealand Derby. By top class sire Teofilo and first two dams are by Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and Arc winner Rainbow Quest.

13/ Endowment (NZ) (3g Savabeel x Timpin, by Pins

Fifth in the New Zealand Derby. By outstanding sire Savabeel from a solid albeit unexciting Kiwi family, but would need to improve plenty on his Rosehill Guineas run.

14/ Belfast (3c Teofilo (IRE) x Lovingthelimelight (USA), by Lemon Drop Kid (USA)

Third runner in the race for Galileo's high class son Teofilo and has had a good grounding to run the trip in the lead ups. Pedigree is interesting as dam won up to 2200m and is by G1 Belmont Stakes (2400m) winner Lemon Drop Kid from the family of champion racehorse and sire Chief's Crown. Bad barrier, but not out of it.

15/ Mongolian Marshall (NZ) (3g High Chaparral (IRE) x Ardeche, by Dehere (USA)

Another trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and is by one of our best staying sires. From the same legendary Eight Carat family as Astoria, so you have to respect the power of the pedigree over his form, which is good, but needs to go to a new level to win.

16/ Main Stage (NZ) (3g Reliable Man (GB) x Kiri , by Prized (USA)

Main Stage is from the first crop of a very good 2000 metre horse in Reliable Man that would be expected to get Classic horses and his dam is a stakes-winner up to 2200 metres. Was fifth in the Victoria Derby and could easily repeat that effort.

17/ Condor (3c Fastnet Rock x Ronan's Bay, by Johannesburg (USA)

By a champion sire from an international Black Type family, but I'm not seeing a lot of staying blood that would make me think Derby and I doubt Condor is thinking it either.

18/ Pissaro (3c Pierro x Sirani, by Galileo (IRE))

On pedigree, he has Derby written all over him and was fourth in the Victoria Derby. By VRC Oaks winner Pinot's sire, Pissaro is from a daughter of the world's best sire in Galileo and she's a half-sister to Group I winner Black Mamba, who won up to 2400 metres and ATC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor is another close relation. Pissaro has done very little to recommend since his Victoria Derby fourth, but if you want a long shot to put in a trifecta, he's it!

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