Racing: Classic-bound colt adds to tally

Demonetization (2) beats Endowment (8) in the Auckland Guineas yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Demonetization added to an already successful New Year's Day for Nigel Tiley when the classic-bound colt proved too strong for his age group rivals at Ellerslie.

The Pukekohe trainer had earlier produced Melt to claim the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and her older barn mate completed a stakes double when he triumphed under jockey Jason Waddell in the Gr.2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m).

"The further they go the better he'll be," Tiley said. "I'm looking forward to the autumn."

Demonetization has the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) as his grand final, but Tiley has yet to lock in the All Too Hard three-year-old's path to the March feature.

"I have to choose whether we go to Wellington or not, that would give a nice break to the Avondale Guineas and then the Derby," Tiley said.

The Trentham option is the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) on January 13.

Demonetization won his first two starts before the $220,000 NZ Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate finished third in last month's Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m). He raced off the pace and was unsuited when it developed into a sit and sprint contest.

"Jason and I had a talk and we decided to change our tactics today so he went forward," Tiley said.

Demonetization is now at $9 in the Derby market behind the $8 favourite Age Of Fire.

- NZ Racing Desk