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The Gr.1 $2.2million Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m)

Monaco Consul (NZ)

Three-year-olds take centre stage at Ellerslie
1:24 PM Thursday Mar 04, 2010

The Auckland Racing Club's premier showpiece event, the Auckland Cup three-day Carnival at Ellerslie commences on Saturday with the running of prestigious Group One NZ$2.2million Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m).
This year’s race is developing into an intriguing "battle of the sexes", as the two class fillies Zarzuela and Katie Lee, take on the best of boys can offer.

HORSE
OWNER/BREEDER/TRAINER
KEY POINTS
Monaco Consul (NZ)
High Chaparral x Argante by Star Way

Owner: GG Syndicate & OG Glenn
Breeder:
Windsor Park Stud
Trainer: Mike and Paul Moroney
A star in Australia in the Spring.
Won the Gr.1 Champion Stakes at Randwick and returned almost four weeks later to win the Gr.1 VRC Derby at Flemington.
Last start: 7th to Veloce Bella in the Gr.1 Darci Brahma Stakes at Te Rapa on Feb 13.
Military Move (NZ)
Volksraad x All Night Party by Just A Dancer
Owner: Steven Kit Sing Lo
Breeder:
Windsor Park Stud
Trainer: Shaune Ritchie
Run down late by Katie Lee in the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.
 
Last start: Running home at the business end of the 1200m Gr.2 Champion Stakes at Ellerslie on Feb 20.
 
King Raedwald
Red Ransom x Lady Circles by Ascot Knight
Owner: PJ Hickman & D R King
Breeder:
Arch of Gold Pty Ltd & Moffitt Breeding & Racing
Trainer: Kevin Gray
Made career debut in September after being purchased by Stephen Gray at the 2008 NZB Ready to Run Sale for $400,000.
 
Has won 3 of 7 starts to date.
 
Last start: Solid 3rd to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.
Martial Art (NZ)
Tiger Hill ad Kwan by Sadler’s Wells
Owner: TM Farmer, PJ Vela, PM Vela and MJ Wyborn
Breeder:
PJ & PM Vela
Trainer: Mark Walker
Stablemate of race favourite Zarzuela.
 
Has won 2 and placed in 2 of 7 starts to date including a second to Joey Massino in the NZB Karaka 3YO Mile.
 
Last start: 7th to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.
Time Keeper (NZ)
Stravinsky x Organdy by Our Emblem
Owner: Ms FB Crimmins and GA Nicholson
Breeder:
C D Harvey, D C MacLean & T H Morris
Trainer: Graeme Nicholson and Paul Allbon
The most experienced runner in the field with 20 starts under his belt to date.
 
Best run to date was a third placing in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie in December.
 
Last start: 4th to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.
Corporal Jones (NZ)
Pentire x Assesarose by Conquistarose
Owner: GKV Holdings Ltd, & Hong Kong Trainers Syndicate 2009/10
Breeder:
I G Hadfield
Trainer: Andrew Scott
Is the current 2nd favourite to win the race.
 
Ran 2nd to Zarzuela in the Gr.3 Waikato Guineas on Feb 6.
 
Last start: 2nd to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.
Smokin’ Gun (NZ)
High Chaparral x Rapida by Senor Pete
Owner: J Beeton, D Courtney-O’Connor, R Gelski and Ms A  Whitelock
Breeder:
D Courtney – O’Connor
Trainer: Craig Thornton
By the same sire as Monaco Consul, and the 2009 Cox Plate winner So You Think.
 
Distance no concern.
 
Last start: 13th to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.
Ballybit (NZ)
Spartacus x Miss Grosvenor by Grosvenor
Owner: Mrs K M Stanley
Breeder: Karreman Bloodstock Ltd
Trainer: Allan Sharrock
One of two runners in the race for Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock, who won the race in 2006 with Wahid.
 
Course winner.
 
Last start: 8th over 2100m at Woodville on Feb 25.
Imabayboy (NZ)
San Luis x English Kate by Kaapstad
Owner: C & Mrs V S Gray
Breeder
: Mrs M and R A Gray
Trainer: Trent Busuttin
First Derby runner on his own account for trainer Trent Busuttin.
 
Hs won 5 of 14 starts to date.
 
Last start: Won over 2100m at Ellerslie on Feb 20.
Handsome Zulu (NZ)
Handsome Ransom x Bionic Eagle by Omnicorp
Owner: PG Gillespie & Wellfield Holdings Ltd
Breeder:
L Williams
Trainer: John Sargent
Represents the first Derby runner for Wellfield Lodge sire Handsome Ransom.
 
Was second to Joey Massino in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes at Trentham on Jan 23.
 
Last start: 4th to Juice over 2000m at Te Rapa on Feb 13.
 
Volgus (NZ)
Volksraad x Gussy Godiva by Last Tycoon
Owner: EM & Miss NA Bourke, M Eliason, JP Fleming, AR Piercy, JA Washer, & Est Late BJ Fleming
Breeder:
Michael Ormond Children’s Trust
Trainer: Allan Sharrock
The well related half-brother to Gr.1 AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor and the group performer Rios.
 
Has had the 10 starts for 1 win and four placings.
 
Last start: 2nd over 2000m at Pukekura Park on Feb 20.
No Emotion (NZ)
Savabeel x Lightning Spur by Flying Spur
Owner: G Andrew, BF Broom, J & MP Carter, AM Dragicevich, and CW Lambert
Breeder:
Mrs CL Crawshaw
Trainer: John Sargent
One of two runners in the race from the inform stable of John Sargent.
 
Last start: 8th to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.
Katie Lee
Pins x Miss Jessie Jay by Spectacularphantom
 
Owner: Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan
Breeder:
Hallmark Stud and Trevor Hurley
Trainer: Graeme and Debbie Rogerson
Boom filly of 2009/10.
Won the historical Gr.1 double in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November, and the Gr.2 Eight Carat Stud Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
 
Has won 7 (6 at stakes level) of her 15 starts.
 
Last start: Won the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Ellerslie on Feb 13.
Zarzuela (NZ)
Zabeel x Star Satire by Volksraad
Owner: David Paykel
Breeder:
David Paykel
Trainer: Mark Walker
Current race favourite.
 
Has dominated in the traditional Derby lead-up races including the Gr.2 Championship Stakes, the Gr.3 Waikato Guineas, and the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas.
 
Last start: Won the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on Feb 20.
Jungle Juice (NZ)
Jungle Pocket x Shadow Ray by Groom Dancer
Owner: IDL Racing Ltd
Breeder:
Jungle Pocket Pty & Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd
Trainer: Donna, Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs.
Third to Zarzuela in the Gr.3 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa on Feb 6.
 
Distance should be of no concern.
 
Last start: 13th to Zarzuela in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on 20 Feb.


THE NEW ZEALAND DERBY FACT FILE
 
With a purse of NZ$2.2 mil, the 2010 Telecom New Zealand Derby is the richest event on offer for 3YO’s in the country.
Location: Ellerslie Racecourse (Right-handed turf)
Distance: 2400m
Weight: Set weighs
First run in 1860 at Riccarton.
Combined with the Great Northern Derby in 1973
Traditionally run on Boxing day, the derby was moved to March in 2006
Notable winners include: Kindergarten, Balmerino, Desert Gold, Mainbrace, Gloaming and Bonecrusher
Only three fillies since 1980 have won the Derby – Our Flight (1983), Tidal Light (1987) and Popsy (1993).
Michael Moroney has trained three New Zealand Derby winners since 1996 (Great Command, Cut the Cake and Xcellent) and Roger James has trained a treble of winners since 1995 (Royson, Zonda, and Hades).
The fastest winning time of the modern era was recorded by So Casual in 1998 (2.24.80).
Champion sire Zabeel has sired three New Zealand Derby winners (Zonda, St Reims, and Hades).
 
PREVIOUS TEN WINNERS THE GR.1 NEW ZEALAND DERBY
 
YEAR
HORSE
JOCKEY
TRAINER
OWNER
TIME
2009
Murray Livestock, J O'Brien, J & R Standford & J Wilson
2:31.04
2008
K Barker et al.
2:33.47
2007
P. Silvestro
2:27.24
2006
Noel H. & Ron T. Stanley
2:27.42
2004
G W Breingan et al.
2:32.01
2003
N M Anderson/G W Breingan et al.
2:28.88
2002
Greg Childs
Chris McNab
Rob McAnulty et al.
2:28.57
2001
Scott Seamer
Jeff McVean
R A and Mrs R J Scarborough
2:28.98
2000
Noel Harris
Bruce Marsh
A J Cunningham & R B Marsh
2:32.27
1999
Roger James
Mrs F E & R A Dixon
2:27.57

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