Racing: Anacheeva ruled out of Victoria Derby

Peter Moody. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Trainer Peter Moody says he will not be tempted to chase a Victoria Derby victory with Anacheeva who gave him his first win, and jockey Luke Nolen his second, in the A$1 million in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday.

Moody said if the Anabaa colt raced again this spring it would be in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

"Alternatively, he'll be spelled for the Australian Guineas and Randwick Guineas in the autumn," Moody said.

A brother to 2006 AJC Australian Derby winner Headturner and a half-brother to sprinter Kroner, a group two Premiere Stakes winner, Anacheeva set up a stud career with victory in the Group One Guineas (1600m), which has proven to be a stallion-making race.

Moody deliberately kept the colt fresh for the Guineas, spacing his runs this spring, and he remains unbeaten this campaign. "He slips under the radar, you know he's stamped himself as the best 3-year-old colt in the land today," Moody said.

Sent out at $6, Anacheeva was given a gun run behind race leader Run For Levi ($31) and went on to beat that tenacious colt by a long neck.

Victoria Derby-bound Masquerader ($10) was three-quarters of a length away third with Toorak Toff ($5 eq fav) finishing fourth after being trapped wide and making an early run.

The other equal favourite, Spring Stakes winner Ilovethiscity, tracked nicely into the race behind Toorak Toff but failed to finish off, weakening to finish 10th of the 16 runners.

"You see him physically here beside these other horses today and although he's an extremely attractive colt he's got a lot of maturity ahead of him and that usually means a lot of improvement," said Moody.

- AAP