The classic Derby clash New Zealand punters are craving is anything but certain even though the two main players were stunning in different ways at Te Rapa yesterday.
First, the filly Prowess streeted her rivals in the $140,000 Ellis Classic, but just over an hour later, Sharp ‘N’ Smart was even more impressive, beating some of our best older weight-for-age horses over 2000m in the $450,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes.
It was a race he had no right to win, second up after a gutbuster at Trentham and then trapped three wide for half the race, but the big gelding showed special qualities to fight off Campionessa, with fellow three-year-old Wild Night grinding his way past Defibrillate into third.
That may see Wild Night bypass the $1 million Derby back at Te Rapa but it is definitely the next and main aim for Sharp ‘N’ Smart, who already had a Derby second at Flemington to his credit.
His win was testament not only to his toughness but that of jockey Ryan Elliot, who was on tiny rations all week to make the 54kg and pay back trainer Graeme Rogerson, one of his biggest supporters.