News » Champion Jockey Can Notch His Most Important Win As A Trainer by Peter Ellis

Champion Jockey Can Notch His Most Important Win As A Trainer by Peter Ellis

Cherry Tortoni completed his Derby preparation with a determined victory in Moonee Valley Vase last Saturday. Image: Racing Photos, George Salpigtidis.

It is 23 years ago that the legendary Tie The Knot, carrying the distinctive red silks, white cap, was a “certainty beaten” in the Victoria Derby (2500m).

 

His jockey Darren Beadman elected to make his run on Tie The Knot on  the worst part of the Flemington straight, causing his loss to Second Coming.

 

This year Cherry Tortoni carrying the red, white cap colours is poised to make amends to eminently successful owners Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison for Tie The Knot’s defeat,

 

Appropriately carrying the No.1 saddlecloth Cherry Tortoni goes into the blue riband event with a record of four wins and two placings from seven starts.

 

The only blemish on his record came when trainer Patrick Payne decided to tackle the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 10.

 

After always being well back the Night Of Thunder gelding finished seventh, beaten more than six lengths, but he quickly redeemed himself when coming around the field to win the Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) last Saturday.

 

Although he will jump from the outside barrier 14 it is noteworthy that four of the past five Derby winners – Tarzino (10), Prized Icon (14), Extra Brut (13) and Warning (10) – have been successful from double digit draws.

 

It is also significant that 25 of the past 40  Victoria Derby winners have contested either the Vase or the Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield.

 

Underscoring the class of the Derby in previous years, four three-year-olds – Sovereign Red, Grosvenor, Red Anchor and Stylish Century – have won the Derby after contesting the Cox Plate the previous week.

 

On that basis Albarado, whose trainer Trent Busuttin won the Derby with Sangster in 2011, shapes as the major threat to Cherry Tortoni.

 

Busuttin, who now trains in partnership with Natalie Young, has acquitted himself well so far with three wins and a third from five starts.

 

The third, in the Super Impose (1800m) at Flemington, was followed by his win in the Norman Robinson when he overcame difficulties to edge out  Let’s Karaka Deal and Redwood Shadow.

 

Damien Oliver, who has six victories in the race stretching back to Redding in 1992, has a serious chance of scoring aboard the pre-post favourite Young Werther, who is ideally drawn in barrier 4.

 

By the staying influence Tavistock, Young Werther won over 1500m at Geelong at his debut and at his only other racecourse appearance he was second, beaten a long head, in the Super Impose after being held up at a critical stage in the straight. He was withdrawn from the Vase when the track was downgraded.

 

However, his trainer Danny O’Brien has established himself as a master trainer, particularly of stayers, so he definitely knows what he is doing.

 

O’Brien has two other runners in Cetshwayo and Kenzan but they must be rated as outsiders.

 

Hit The Shot, whose sire Dundeel has three representatives, is worthy of respect on his third in the Vase as is Let’s Karaka Deal on his Norman Robinson second.

 

Johnny Get Angry, who like Young Werther is one of Tavistock’s four runners, is attracting a lot of attention being the first Derby runner for his trainer Denis Pagan, who is a former AFL premiership winning coach with North Melbourne.

 

The gelding’s first five starts have all been at Flemington and Pagan has him primed for the Derby judging on his solid finishing efforts when fourth in the Super Impose and third in the Vase.

 

Selections

  1. Cherry Tortoni [1]
  2. Albarado [2]
  3. Young Werther [5]
  4. Hit The Shot [6]
Gun jockey Glen Boss predicts Golden Slipper winner Farnan can win the Coolmore Stud Stakes by lengths. Image: Grant Guy grantdguy@yahoo.com.au