Racing: Trainer keeps Sacred vow

Surely Sacred will be ridden by Damian Lane in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Tony Pike will be honouring a promise to Golden Slipper-winning jockey Damian Lane at Randwick on Saturday.

Lane added the Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) to his CV when successful on Kiamichi last month and will be out to win at the top level for Pike when the Cambridge trainer legs him aboard Surely Sacred in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

"I owe Damian a Derby ride," Pike said. "He rode Sacred Elixir for me in Melbourne a few years ago and won a couple on him, but he didn't get to ride him in the Victoria Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) as we had Zac Purton booked for that. I told him I'd give him a Derby ride one day and he'll have his chance on Surely Sacred on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it."

Pike secured Lane's services for Surely Sacred (who races in the same Raffles Racing colours as Sacred Elixir) when the Rock 'N' Pop three-year-old made his Australian debut in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas.

Surely Sacred drew wide when he finished fourth, five and a half lengths behind the boom three-year-old The Autumn Sun, on a rain-sodden Rosehill track and Pike will be happy with a better draw for the Australian Derby in barrier 6.

Surely Sacred flashed home from last to win the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie before an unlucky fifth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

He then took off before the home turn and was in front soon after straightening when winning the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie and had to make a long run from the back when fifth in the Gr.1 Vodafone NZ Derby (2400m), the Ellerslie performance which secured his trip to Sydney.

Lane will be chasing his second Australian Derby win and his first was also on a Cambridge horse. He rode Jon Snow to victory two years ago for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

- NZ Racing Desk