Racing: Back to plan A with class filly

Plenty of owners would love to run second in a $500,000 Derby.

Rudy Liefting said it would have disgusted him to watch class filly Justa Tad finish second in New Zealand's richest and best classic at Ellerslie on Sunday.

Which is why he did not pay the $20,000 late entry fee for the Mercedes Derby by last Friday's deadline.

Liefting's thoughts do not spring from lack of sportsmanship, simply his own tough expectations.

The Derby, he says, is an afterthought, something you should probably never factor into big-race plans.

"I wouldn't at all mind running second in the races I had originally planned for her.

"If she ran second in the fillies race, the Royal Stakes, no problem. But if she finished second, say to Cheval De Troy in the Derby, I'd be devastated.

"If you change direction you have to make sure you win the race that you switch to. But I had to give the Derby some thought."

Liefting will stick with his plan to take on the 2000m Royal Stakes for fillies on the final day of the Auckland Cup carnival at Ellerslie.

Then it will be to the premier fillies classic, the New Zealand Bloodstock Oaks at Trentham late next month.

Beyond that Liefting is hoping for an invitation to represent New Zealand in the group one American Oaks at Hollywood Park in July, a race worth $1 million to the winner.

That is very close to the money he has turned down for the filly from overseas interests also looking to win the American Oaks.

Justa Tad last week won the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni with ridiculous ease.

Liefting said the filly has done well in the little serious work he has given her since.

"She had a reasonable gallop yesterday, but I haven't done a lot."