Racing: Jimmy turns up Derby heat

Jimmy Choux ridden by Jonathan Riddell returns to scale after his emphatic win in the Waikato Guineas. Photo / Trish Dunell

Jimmy Choux confirmed his undoubted class and favouritism for the $2.2 million Telecom Derby with a stunning win at Te Rapa yesterday.

The colt son of Thorn Park produced impeccable manners and another dazzling turn of foot to effortlessly handle a step up in racing distance to 2000m when powering away for an easy victory in the $70,000 (Group Three) HS Dyke Waikato Guineas.

Jimmy Choux was asked to sprint twice during the running taking a little while to relax one off the fence during the early stages of the race.

Regular rider Jonathan Riddell then improved his charge forward three wide to obtain a handier on the pace sit behind tear away leader On The Level with about 1000m remaining.

Riddell then asked the favourite to sprint out wider on the track at the top of the home stretch and quickly reeled in the leaders.

Such was the ease of the victory that Riddell quickly eased down on the winner over the closing 100m well clear of Yin Yang Master and Historian.

The magnitude of the winning performance was best summed up by the sight of rival jockey's furiously working their charges over the closing 100m while Riddell was taking in the sights of the track while sitting up on the winner.

Trying to find a chink in the armour of this athlete is proving difficult.

Such is the well-balanced galloping action of Jimmy Choux, you could place a glass of water on his back, and not spill a drop due to his amazing acceleration and balance.

Winning trainer John Bary will get his stable star back to Hastings into his favourite paddock before assessing future racing options before the Derby at Ellerslie on March 5.

"He'll have his usual week in the paddock to recover from this race then we'll reassess things and see if we need another run before the Derby.

"He's got that turn of foot good horses have and I legged up the best jockey on this horse today and it was the ride of his life."

James Mcdonald was in commanding form at Te Rapa yesterday, registering seasonal wins 100 and 101 aboard Goldminer and Arcenciel.

McDonald produced a patient and well-judged ride on Arcenciel in the $40,000 Loch Haven Thoroughbreds Series Fillies and Mares Final.

The 4-year-old mare settled against the rail during the early stages of the race before McDonald hooked his charge out into clear galloping room wider out on the track on the home turn.

Arcenciel sprinted powerfully to the lead clearing out for an easy victory over Glendoveer and Next (third).

Cambridge trainer Yves Seguin was backing his charge up following a second placing at Te Aroha a week ago but clearly that run did not affect the mare's performance yesterday.

Roman Toia dented some big reputations with a powerful home stretch sprint to win the Rating 90 1400m.

The 5-year-old was given a dream midfield sit by veteran jockey Grant Cooksley, who rode a half kilogram over the carded weight, lengthening stride impressively at the business end of the race to score by a half length over the pace setting Mae Jinx.

A further half-head back in third position was the fast closing Gorse who made up a stack of ground from the rear of the field.

Cambridge trainer Sally House was confident of a bold performance from the son of Pins.

"We didn't go to Wellington for the premier meetings as we terrified of the weather and the wet track," said House.

"It was a great ride from Grant as he had the horse nicely positioned just off the speed and let him run home nicely.

"Last season we had all sorts of problems with this horse's feet and we've just got him over those issues and he's racing very well at the moment."

Duckworth Lewis recorded a powerful front running victory in the 2-year-old event continuing an impressive strike rate for trainer Leo Molloy.

The Son of Postponed was punched straight to the front by jockey Derek Nolan and when asked for an effort in the home stretch the response was mouth watering as he burst clear to win by 2 lengths over Dowager Queen. Shopaholic battled on gamely a further 1 lengths away third.

Molloy and his staff have done an outstanding job with this runner.