The reunion party of the two Derby Kings of New Zealand racing may have only lasted a few hours but Roger James is confident he has found the right replacement for Pinarello in next week's $1million Vodafone Derby.
James, who has trained five NZ Derby winners combined with Vinnie Colgan, who has ridden six including three for James, to win with Pinarello at Ellerslie on Saturday and while it was only a rating 65 over 2100m the gelding looked every inch a potential Derby winner.
James left Ellerslie thinking he had his Derby horse and jockey only for Colgan to be offered the ride in Derby favourite La Crique after her Avondale Guineas-winning rider Craig Grylls was suspended.
While James, who trains Pinarello with Robert Wellwood, was surprised Colgan changed from one Derby favourite to the other, Colgan actually has more raceday association with La Crique, who has hidden three times, than Pinarello who he has ridden twice.
Once his decision was made and the Derby dominator reunion cut short, James was able to secure another former Derby winner in Jonathan Riddell for Pinarello, Riddell having won the classic with Jimmy Choux during a stellar 2011 season.