Racing: Derby hotpot to miss Guineas

John Bary. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

There will be no Jimmy Choux in Saturday's $85,000 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie and definitely no King's Rose in the $2.2 Telecom Derby.

Jimmy Choux's trainer John Bary has got what he originally wanted - a one-month gap between the Waikato Guineas and the 2400m Derby on March 5.

It's an unusual preparation, but Bary knows his horse has made few mistakes and is happy that is the right line to take with the Derby favourite.

"All along I said I'd give him the one-month gap and I thought about the Avondale Guineas only if he came through the Waikato Guineas kicking and bucking."

Despite what looked to be an extremely easy victory by Jimmy Choux at Te Rapa, Bary said the horse knew he'd been to the races.

"He was tired when he got home," he said yesterday.

"He's fine again now, but I know now he, definitely, doesn't need another race going into the Derby."

Bary said his work pattern with Jimmy Choux will not change.

"He'll do a couple of pieces of work next week and Jonathan [Riddell] will come up and ride him on the Tuesday morning of Derby week before we head north with the horse."

Jimmy Choux remains the $3 Derby favourite ahead of He's Remarkable on $5 and Hidden Asset at $8.

Vinny Colgan, the equal-winningest Derby jockey, will ride Hidden Asset in the Avondale Guineas and in the Derby, replacing James McDonald, who is required for Banchee.

Te Akau principal David Ellis said yesterday King's Rose will also revert to her original plan to take on the New Zealand Oaks then Sydney's AJC Oaks, missing the Derby.

There definitely appeared to be some wavering on that thought after King's Rose demolished the opposition in Saturday's $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa.

The closer you get to a $2.2 million race the bigger the pot of gold looks. The connections paid up the $4703 second Derby withdrawal fee last Tuesday to leave the option open.

If King's Rose was today declared a definite Derby runner she would be the horse to beat and probably the $3 equal favourite.

"No, she definitely won't be running in the Derby," said Ellis.

"She'll go to the Lowland Stakes then the Oaks and as long as she's in form she'll run in the AJC Oaks, that's a nice race for her CV.

"Our long-term plan is the Caulfield Cup. We think that race suits her nicely and we feel she'd be competitive in it."

King's Rose's work leading into Saturday's race was spectacular and she has come through the race - her first in six weeks - beautifully. "She was bouncing this morning. She's doing unbelievably well," said Ellis.

She is the best possible advertisement to sell the shares in the $875,000 Karaka sale-topping half brother by Red Ransom.

Te Akau picked the colt up after a fairly fierce bidding duel and there is just one share remaining.

"I'm not surprised there's been that level of interest in him," said Ellis.

Pukekohe stayer Celtic Fantasy is running in tomorrow's A$300,000 Mornington Cup in Victoria.

"Someone from the club called me out of the blue and suggested I should bring the horse over," said trainer Craig Ritchie.

"It's a good stake so why not?"

Craig Williams will ride Celtic Fantasy, who has a comfortable 54kg.

Macedonian and My Bently are joint favourites with 57.5kg.