Racing: Keep The Peace to tackle Australia's best 3YOs

Mike Moroney. Photo / Amos Chapple

Cambridge filly Keep The Peace arrives in Sydney this week to take on the colts and geldings in the AJC Australian Derby.

The winner of the New Zealand Oaks on March 20, Keep The Peace is trained by Shaune Ritchie and owned by former champion jockey Mick Dittman, with his son Luke and Queensland businessman Paul Bellingham.

She completed a rare Classic double for Ritchie last month after Military Move won the New Zealand Derby.

The decision by Military Move's Hong Kong owner Steven Lo to bypass Sydney helped sway Ritchie into running Keep The Peace in the Derby.

"We wouldn't have run them against each other but Military Move will go to Hong Kong for his future racing," Ritchie said.

"His aim is next season's Hong Kong Derby.

"I paid the late entry for Keep The Peace last week. Both Paul and Mick studied the form and thought the Derby might be easier than taking on those two fillies, Faint Perfume and Valdemoro.

"There seems to be a different winner among the colts each week."

The Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume beat Valdemoro in the VRC Oaks last spring and the result was the same again when they met in Saturday's Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill.

Faint Perfume was among the Derby entries but Cummings said she would be saved for the Oaks and another clash with Valdemoro a week later.

Ritchie hasn't ruled out an Oaks start for Keep The Peace who has won four of her eight starts and been runner-up in three others.

"We'll see what happens in the Derby, it hasn't been ruled out," he said.

Keep The Peace is adept on firm or soft ground and Ritchie said she was also adaptable to different race tempos.

Ritchie said Jason Waddell, who was suspended when the NZ Oaks was run, would regain the ride in Sydney.

In other Derby news, Melbourne trainer Mike Moroney is hoping some chiropractic treatment and Damien Oliver on board will jolt Monaco Consul back to form on Saturday.

Monaco Consul departed from Matamata last night.

"We've left him in New Zealand on purpose," Moroney said.

"We hope the trip over will spark him up. He's had some chiropractor work, but I think it's more a mental issue with him."

Monaco Consul, a colt, has run 10th, seventh and 11th in three New Zealand runs since his dominant Victoria Derby win in the spring.

"The pluses are he's a good stayer, he's travelled and won in Sydney, and if he found his best he'd be the horse to beat," Moroney said.

Oliver said while Monaco Consul had not had the ideal preparation "this is not a vintage Derby".

Trainer Bart Cummings will rely on Rock Classic in his bid to win a fifth AJC Derby.

He will resist the temptation to back up Saturday's impressive Vinery Stud Stakes winner Faint Perfume.

"Don't be greedy," he said. "The fortnight break to the Oaks is ideal. We tried to win the Derby with her mother Danendri, and she was no good after that.

"We want to have Faint Perfume right for Melbourne next spring."

Cummings said the 2400m of the Derby was not a worry for Rock Classic, who was edged out in the 2000m Rosehill Guineas by Zabrasive.

The Jim Conlan-trained Sherpa Tenzing will be a surprise runner.

The Zabeel gelding worked well between races at Kembla Grange on Saturday. If he pleases in Randwick trackwork today, he will run.

Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive is the $3.60 Derby favourite with Tab Sportsbet ahead of Rock Classic at $8 and Shoot Out at $8.

Military Move remains in the market at $15, while Keep The Peace has not yet been given a price.

Final acceptances and any more late entries for the Derby (2400m) will be taken today, with all other races to be declared tomorrow.

- AAP