Racing: Richards puts judgment to test

Murray Baker. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

MELBOURNE - Almindoro gets the chance to vindicate trainer Steve Richards' judgment that he is a true classic type when he lines up in Saturday's blue-riband Victoria Derby.

Almindoro is the first Redoute's Choice Richards has had in his Flemington stables and, with a A$300,000 price, the most expensive horse he has ever trained.

"I bought him as a classic type. He was never going to win a Golden Slipper or a Blue Diamond," Richards said.

"He was just a beautiful Derby type of horse. A big loose-walking horse, he had stayer written all over him.

"He had a classic look about him, he was a beautiful horse."

Richards said he knew his group one-winning mare Rostova was getting to the stage where she would be retired and was looking for a horse to replace her.

"The market coming back last year gave me the chance to buy a Redoute's Choice," he said.

"Twelve months before that they would have been a lot dearer so it's turned out well.

"She's gone to stud this year and this horse will, hopefully, open up another door for us.

"I'm confident he'll run really well. He's going to love the journey [2500m] and the Flemington racecourse. That's for sure."

The 3-year-old is still in his initial racing preparation having had four starts and, although he is a maiden, he has finished runner-up in two strong Derby lead-up races.

After finishing last of four in a 3-year-old maiden on the Geelong synthetic track at his debut on August 26, he ran ninth to Epic Dragon in a 1500m open 3-year-old race at Moonee Valley on September 11.

Those efforts were followed by a long neck second to Eclair Surprise in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 3 and a half-length second to Retrieve on a heavy track in the group three Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 16.

Richards said Almindoro has continued to raise the bar throughout his Derby campaign. "If I found that he didn't he was going to the paddock. I wasn't going to push him because I've got too good an opinion of the horse. He'll make a very good stayer next year."

Steven King will be after his third Victoria Derby victory aboard Almindoro, having won the race on Star Of The Realm in 1991 and Helenus in 2002.

The last maidens to win the Derby were Redding in 1992 and Fire Oak in 1990.

AAMI Vase winner Rekindled Interest, like Almindoro a Redoute's Choice gelding, is a $3.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, ahead of Retrieve at $3.80, Digital Fortress at $8.50 and Almindoro at $10.

Cambridge galloper Lion Tamer, trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker, is on the next line of betting at $14.

He finished second to Rekindled Interest last Saturday after being in the unfamiliar role of pacemaker.

- AAP