Racing: Knee okay but jockey needs plenty of luck

Spellbinder ridden by Matthew Cameron. File photo / Sarah Ivey

Matt Cameron's knee might be improving enough to ride Spellbinder in tomorrow's $750,000 TV3 NZ Derby at Ellerslie, but don't be surprised if he tells you he's dizzy.

The leading jockey's roller-coaster ride this week has been nothing short of ridiculous - up and down all the way.

UP: Cameron rode Spellbinder in a gallop at Matamata on Tuesday and his texts on the effort went through the sound barrier.

DOWN: Early afternoon Cameron was kicked on the side of the leg just below the knee at the Matamata barrier trials. "It's broken" was the first reaction. Bye-bye the Derby ride and bye-bye a 10-win premiership lead.

UP: X-rays show no breaks, the Derby is back on the books.

DOWN: Spellbinder drew barrier No19, a tough task.

But Cameron has enormous faith in the ability of Spellbinder, who has not been out of a place in seven starts and whose form has had no roller-coaster element - it's been solid throughout.

Although classy and speedy, Spellbinder is extremely tough, says Cameron.

"I have no doubt she will see out the 2400m of the Derby. She was strong on the line when Hera beat her in the Sir Tristram Classic [2100m] at Te Rapa."

Matamata trainer Jason Bridgman is less worried about the 2400m trip than he is about the wide barrier draw.

"I can't see a scenario where she can get an economical trip," he says. "You don't have the same control over your destiny when you draw wide.

"She's probably going to have to settle further back than she otherwise would."

Bridgman and his jockey would prefer to see Spellbinder in the first four or five because Cameron is confident the classy filly will settle comfortably on a Derby pace without getting too fierce.

A win would be a timely huge boost for Te Akau Bloodstock and its principal, David Ellis, on the tail end of syndicating $8.5 million of yearlings bought at Karaka.

Matt Cameron probably sums it up well: "She's better than 95 per cent of this field."

The difficulty will be that the other 5 per cent is Puccini and Rising Romance.