NZ Derby Runner-Up heading to Australian Derby

Source: NZ Racing News

Andalus (NZ) (Almanzor) will head across the Tasman next month after nearly pulling off a massive upset in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Punters who backed Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) into 2-5 odds for Saturday’s feature were briefly put into a state of panic as Andalus, a 100-1 chance on the tote, came to challenge in the final 150m.

But despite a strong fight, Andalus fell a long neck short of becoming a second 100-1 New Zealand Derby winner for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh following Crown Prosecutor in 2019.

A multiple black-type placegetter at two, Andalus broke through for a maiden victory at Te Rapa in January, and his run for seventh in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) on February 18 was better than it looked after he was fractious before the race and lost three lengths at the start.

“He actually went really well in the Avondale Guineas and his jockey thought he could have gone close to winning if he got out of the gates better and had a clearer run. The run was a lot better than it looked,” Marsh said.

“Everyone knew they were going to struggle to beat Sharp ‘N’ Smart but I certainly didn’t think he deserved to be the price he was.

“He got caught three-wide and covered a lot of ground coming into the straight so I thought his run was very brave.

The gelding’s reward will be a trip across the Tasman for the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 1, and another potential meeting with Sharp ‘N’ Smart.

“It took a while for the penny to drop at three and it probably helped gelding him. This preparation has been good. He’s a natural staying horse and we’ve always thought a lot of him,” Marsh said.

“We’ve got a month into the Australian Derby, and all going to plan that will be his next race.

“He will handle a little bit of sting out of the track but he wouldn’t want heavy rain and he’d prefer a good track.”