By MIKE DILLON
Noel Harris breathed a huge sigh of relief when he went over the finish line a narrow winner of yesterday's $30,000 Derby Trial at Ellerslie.
Harris suddenly knew Hail had handled the right-handed track well enough to give himself a big chance of winning the $350,000 Mercedes Derby on Boxing Day.
"You never know until they try it," said a relieved Harris.
"I remember riding Kingdom Bay the first time here and he was hopeless.
"And he'd already won this way round at Te Aroha."
Yesterday's field was missing most of the stars who will line up in the big race, but Harris considers Hail a top chance.
"I respect a few of the others, Danamite for example. When he won at Rotorua I followed him and I thought this horse is going to be a real Derby hope.
"I now rate Hail as good a chance."
Hail showed group one potential when he finished fourth in the $150,000 Bayer Classic after drawing a wide barrier.
"He was wide all the way in the Bayer," said trainer Bruce Marsh.
Hail's distance progression has been 1300m, 1600 and 2065m and Harris is in no doubt the horse will manage the Derby's 2400m.
"He's so relaxed. I didn't want to kick him up early today and he relaxed under me."
Ma Victoire looked likely to beat Hail inside the last 100m, but the Woodville visitor proved too strong by half a length.
Two lengths away Risky Business took third, but as a maiden he will be unable to start in the Derby.
Bruce Marsh has been enjoying a great run lately and two races earlier produced Betta Watch It.
Marsh says he's been itching to get Betta Watch It up over a middle distance and yesterday showed why.
The promising young stayer showed a ton of grit to hold out Classic Babe in the $15,000 Dunstan Stayers' Championship Qualifier (2100m) in his first start past 1600m.
He nearly blew it though. Betta Watch It ducked out in the home straight just as Lance O'Sullivan was about to challenge on his outside. Classic Babe had to switch inside and under 58kg did well to get within a neck of the winner.
O'Sullivan considered protesting, but waived that option after viewing the video.
Lunette will quickly be attempting something a lot more ambitious than the maiden event she won at Ellerslie yesterday.
Trainer Roger James rates Lunette up to group class against opposition of her own age.
"I told Vinny she was the best horse in the race and to ride her that way."
Racing: Veteran jockey hails a true Derby prospect
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