Corey Brown will be hoping for better luck in running when Rekindled Alliance tackles the Group 1 $1.5m David Jones Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick tomorrow.
Jockey Corey Brown is hoping for better luck with Rekindled Alliance (pictured) in the Australian Derby - photo (c) Steve Hart
Brown was forced to make his move too early on Rekindled Alliance when a strong second to Polish Knight in the Group 2 $175,000 Myer Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last week and is hoping to take up a better position from barrier five.
Trainer Paul Messara will be instructing Brown to wait as long as possible and have the last crack at them when he legs him up onto the Redoute’s Choice three year old.
“Given the circumstances, I don’t think Corey had much choice,” Messara said.
“We gave the winner a drag into the race. Had we had his run it might have been a different result.”
Rekindled Alliance has been racing okay and has handled the gradual step up distance in his last couple of starts.
The three year old made up plenty of ground when second to Colorado Claire in the Group 2 $175,000 Spotless Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24 then he handled the 2000m when second to Polish Knight last week.
Messara said that he was happy with the way Rekindled Alliance had pulled up and is certain he will handle the the seven day back up, racing with nose roll for the first time.
“I’m very happy with him. His last run was basically his last big gallop coming into the big one,” Messara said.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has put the blinkers back on Hoylonny to get the last bit of improvement out of the Lonhro colt.
Waller was happy with the way Hoylonny finished off the race when sixth to Laser Hawk in the Group 1 $500,000 Flinders Lane Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 31 and thinks with a little bit of luck will figure in the finish.
“Had he drawn an alley and raced a bit closer he would have finished closer but he showed last start that he can stay and he hit the line strongly after not having everything his own way.” Waller said.
“With the exception of a few horses from the Tulloch last week the Derby is a similar race to the Guineas and we’ve put the blinkers on to put a bit more aggression into his racing.”
Michael Rodd will again be riding Hoylonny and will be looking to get a better position in the early stages of the race from barrier eight after having to contend with a very wide gate in the Rosehill Guineas.
Kiwi filly Silent Achiever is holding favouritism at $3.40, just a head of Laser Hawk at $3.80, while Rekindled Alliance is at $14 and Hoylonny at $34.
