KEY POINTS:
If anyone needs another example of the strength of this season's crop of 3-year-old fillies they need only look at the order of entry for the $700,000 Mercedes Derby at Ellerslie on March3.
Eight fillies are listed within the top 18 qualifiers for the race, with four of the top five positions filled by the fairer sex.
With a final field of 18 runners, selection for the Mercedes Derby is based on stakes earnings as well as those horses who have earned a ballot exemption through a pre-determined qualifying event.
The current TAB fixed odds favourite, Magic Cape, heads the list of nominees with $249,000 followed closely by Princess Coup ($243,900), Veloce Bella ($233,725) and Santagostino ($129,625).
Santagostino is guaranteed a start after her win in the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie, as are the two placegetters from that event, Mettre En Jeu and Uberalles.
Leading trainer Mark Walker is in the enviable position of having four runners - Princess Coup, Santagostino, Uberalles and Velvet and Satin - who will make the field for the Mercedes Derby, all of whom are fillies.
The decision on which of these he will run in the $700,000 event as opposed to the $300,000 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in late March will be made over the next 10 days.
"We'll wait until we see the results from this weekend before making a final decision on which of our fillies will go to the Derby and which will be kept for the Oaks," Walker said.
This Saturday sees the running of the $100,000 Championship Stakes over 2100m at Ellerslie, which is considered the final leadup for the Derby.
The first three placegetters in the race will be exempt from ballot in the Derby, with a number of runners currently outside the top 18 stakes earners looking to secure their spot.
Of added interest will be the appearance of the Sydney-trained, Redoubte's Dancer, who will use the Championship Stakes to familiarise himself with Ellerslie before he tackles the Derby two weeks later.
Last year's Stakes winner Wahid also took out the Derby.
- NZPA
