Racing: Derby a sacred affair for Vinnie Colgan

Surely Sacred heads into the $1million Vodafone New Zealand Derby as favourite following an Avondale Guineas win. Photo / Trish Dunell

DERBY TIPS

• Surely Sacred
• More Wonder
• Vernanme
• Nobu

Vinnie Colgan has ridden more winners of the Vodafone Derby than any jockey in history so he knows what they feel like.

They feel like Surely Sacred.

Colgan will be trying to make it the magnificent seven at Ellerslie tomorrow when he jumps out of barrier three on the $3.80 favourite, a ride that fell into his lap when regular jockey Leith Innes was suspended.

Since Colgan committed to Surely Sacred he has won the Avondale Guineas on him and spent plenty of time galloping him at Cambridge. And he feels like lucky number seven.

"He has the feel of a Derby winner all right," says Colgan.

"He has a lovely stride, relaxes beautifully and can quicken. I rode him in work on Tuesday and he is spot on. He is ready."

Surely Sacred has only had five starts and has looked a Derby horse in every one of them, the most important being the Avondale Guineas two weeks ago, which has become the chosen pathway to Derby glory.

But while he came wide to beat many of tomorrow's rivals that day Colgan says Surely Sacred can go to another level tomorrow.

"I had to go early in that race because the rail was out and it was a shorter race, so the moves were coming earlier.

"But this week I think we will be able to settle handy and then go to sleep with the slower tempo and if I can sit and wait he will really finish it off." The Avondale Guineas isn't the be all and end all of Derby discussions — the placegetters in the Waikato Guineas were very good while More Wonder stepping up in distance brings some x-factor to the classic.

But the Guineas looks the most likely source of tomorrow's winner, which is why it is slightly surprising champion jockey Opie Bosson has opted for Prise De Fer rather than In
A Twinkling, who was enormous in the Guineas.

"I galloped them on Tuesday and it was my choice to go with Prise De Fer," confirms Bosson.

"It was more of a gut feeling that anything else. I have always really liked him."

Third in that Avondale Guineas was Vernanme, who has thrilled trainer Stephen Marsh since and he couldn't be happier going into a race that would mean so much to him.

"Not only have I never won a Derby but I have't had many runners so it is a big deal and I think he can win, I really do," offers Marsh.

Platinum Invador has emerged as a old-fashioned Derby type in recent weeks while the Chris Waller-trained pair of Nobu and Botti have to be respected as both are bred to handle the Derby distance.

Some would question whether x-factor horse More Wonder will cop the 2400m without the traditional 2000m-plus lead-up race.

But his form against the older horses has been so brave he deserves serious consideration and dig deep enough into his pedigree and you find his third dam of Melbourne and Auckland Cup winner Jezabeel.

So while Surely Sacred in the horse to beat, this is a Derby with depth deserved of a classic.