NZ Derby Winner Rocket Spade on Track for Australian Derby

Media Release - Saturday March 27

Exciting three-year-old Rocket Spade provided his connections with the perfect dress rehearsal for his Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) challenge next month when he gave his age-group rivals a start and a beating over 1600m at Tauranga on Saturday.

Rocket Spade cruises to the line at Tauranga to complete his preparation for the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) next month Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The last start Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner looked a picture of health as he paraded before the start and raced accordingly as he proved too classy in the closing stages of the contest.

Rider Craig Grylls allowed the Fastnet Rock colt to amble along at the rear of the six-horse field before commencing a sweeping run at the 600m.

Grylls had Rocket Spade fully wound up shortly after straightening and he dashed clear to win untouched by two lengths from the chasing pack, headed by Marchioness.

Co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan, who prepares Rocket Spade in partnership with Andrew Scott, was delighted with the performance and how the colt had pulled up after the race.

“He travelled nicely throughout and when Craig asked him to go he put them away pretty easily,” O’Sullivan said.

“We weren’t too sure what to expect as we have concentrated on getting him ready for the 2400m of the Australian Derby, so he could have been vulnerable over the mile today.

“I think his class shone through in the end and he has had a really good hit out which will help bring him along for his Sydney mission.”

Advertisement

O’Sullivan confirmed the horse would travel to Sydney on Monday April 5 with the Australian Derby set to be run at Randwick on April 10.

“This was a nice race for him today as he needed a run after freshening up following the New Zealand Derby,” he said.

“He was back in his box at home an hour or so after the race and looked to have taken no harm from it.

“He can have a couple of easy days and then travel over on the Monday before the race.

“We have booked Kerrin McEvoy to ride him in the Derby, so it is all go from here.”

Raced by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, a racing and breeding operation headed by Hong Kong businessman Eugene Chuan, Rocket Spade has now won five of his 9 starts and over $758,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Snow Williams Bayleys Sw+p 1600m

Tauranga Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:35.57
1
Rocket Spade
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C J Grylls 60.5
2
2.3
Marchioness
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x Markisa (NZ) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55.5
3
2.5
Waimoku Falls
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Honolulu (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S J McKee Rdr: A J Calder 55.5
4
2.9
Spirit Of Baz
- 3f Charm Spirit (IRE) x Bazelle (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: S T Collett 55.5
5
3.2
Tina Again
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Phoenix (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: T Yanagida 55.5
6
9.2
Sainte Elisabeth
- 3f Contributer (IRE) x Our Princess (NZ) (Palm Beach (FR))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: D S Johnson 55.5
More Reading...
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 5
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).