Racing: Autridge still hankers after the one that got away

Stephen Autridge still maintains he was robbed of winning glory as a jockey in the 1981 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.

Autridge was on the brilliant three-year-old and favourite Altitude who was pulled up distressed and died after suffering a heart attack.

Isle of Man won the event.

Today at Ellerslie Autridge returns with a strong two-pronged attack as a trainer on New Zealand's premier racing event.

The Autridge and Graeme Rogerson-trained pair of Cedar Manor and Cheshire bring impressive form lines into the $500,000 event.

Cedar Manor has been busy this season racing in Sydney and Melbourne and was Group Two winner three starts ago at Caulfield.

The Oregon-sired colt was then placed eighth in the Victoria Derby (2500 metres) before returning to the Hamilton-based training operation of Autridge and Rogerson.

Cedar Manor ran home solidly two weeks ago at Ellerslie when placed sixth behind Mandela in the Avondale Guineas.

Cheshire was a last-start third placegetter behind the brilliant Cheval De Troy in the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie.

The Cape Cross-sired colt earlier this season scored impressive back-to-back wins against older opposition.

"Both of my three-year-olds will strip down very fit horses for the [NZ] Derby and both of them will have no problem running out the 2400 metres on any type of track surface," said Autridge.

"I'd have to rank Cedar Manor as our stable's top chance heading into this race as he is the type of horse that has that little bit of brilliance.

"He ran out of room at a crucial time in his last-start at Ellerslie behind Mandela and I'm just hopeful we get better luck this time.

"He's had a different preparation to most three-year-olds heading into this race because he's already run in the Victoria Derby and has plenty of racing.

"Cheshire was also held up in his last-start and ran home well behind Cheval De Troy.

"One thing is for certain with Cheshire and that's the fact that he won't lay down or give up at the end of a race as he'll run out the distance better than most of the three-year-olds."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY