Racing: Old hurts resurface in Derby

It took Alf Matthews a decade to get square with Michael Coleman.

Matthews, a former South Australian jockey, is a comments man for Sky in Australia and immediately after Saturday's A$1.8 million AJC Derby, he bagged Coleman's ride on the favourite Xcellent.

Coleman had been found guilty of the interference in the South Australian Oaks in Adelaide that saw Matthews suffer severe injuries.

Matthews filed suit against Coleman for a million dollars and the case dragged on before being dropped.

Immediately after Xcellent proved he could not handle a heavy track, Matthews came on television and suggested Coleman had not watched the first five races at Randwick.

He was referring to Xcellent dropping back in the field early as he traditionally does when all the previous races on the card had been won by horses racing handy.

The video clearly shows Coleman trying to push Xcellent forward in the first 200m, but the horse's natural racing style worked against him and Coleman gave up and allowed the horse to settle.

"The comments were a negative the situation didn't deserve," said Xcellent's co-trainer in New Zealand Paul Moroney.

"Michael did everything possible to win the race, but Xcellent simply can't handle that type of footing.

"We weren't sure, but we suspected he might struggle in the heavy ground. That's not unusual for a horse who can run the fractions he can on a firm track.

"Michael said the track was not only heavy it was very puggy and gluey. He said Xcellent couldn't pull his feet out of the track and he knew with 1200m to run he couldn't win it."

The Xcellent camp had a scare when he returned to his stable.

"He got some straw stuck in his throat and developed a coughing fit. We had to call the emergency vets and, fortunately, by the time they arrived he'd cleared the straw."

Moroney said apart from that, Xcellent had come through the race well and will now spell.

"We go home with our tail between our legs. The disappointing thing is that we couldn't get to show the Australians how good this horse is on top of the ground, but that can wait until next year."

Michael Coleman came out later and produced an exemplary ride to land Cambridge 3-year-old Magnetism an easy winner of the A$100,000 Carbine Club Stakes.

"I was rapt that Michael shoved it up them with that ride - I was the first one down to the birdcage to congratulate him," said Moroney.

"On television this morning Richard Freedman was congratulating him for the ride, so I suppose it's one person's opinion versus the other."