He did not have a traditional derby preparation, and he needed to overcome several obstacles in the run. Still, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Hitotsu left no one in doubt that he was the best horse in Saturday's $2,000,000 Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
After being shuffled back to the tail of the field, Hitotsu stormed home under John Allen to defeat Alegron (Teofilo) by one and three-quarter lengths with Teewaters (Dundeel) a further two lengths back in third.
Unplaced in three top-class races last season at two when trained by Wendy Kelly, Hitotsu was a private purchase Ozzie Kheir and partners. After breaking his maiden at Donald, the son of Japanese Horse Of The Year Maurice (JPN) prepped for the derby with a fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
Ciaron Maher said that Hitotsu is improving with maturity.
"Will Bourne, my bloodstock manager, sourced the horse, and we went down to have a look at him. He was fairly immature, and that is probably why his program has developed the way it has. He's still a relatively immature horse," Maher said.
"He’s very clean winded. We were happy to go to the Guineas off a maiden and was probably the strongest on the line in the Guineas. We didn’t want to over race him because he is immature.
“We were happy with his fitness and here we are.
“Johnny Allen does a lot for us at the stable. No better man to have around. He’s making a habit of winning these big ones. He’s got so much confidence.
“This horse trains predominantly at Ballarat.
“It’s fantastic to get a victory like this in the VRC Derby on what is arguably the biggest day of racing.”
John Allen said plenty went against Hirotshu in the run.
“We got into a nice position coming out of the straight, but the tempo just came back out of the race,” Allen said.
“There was a three-wide line which I was trying to get to cause all the fancied ones seem to be out there, but they came around me and kept me in. I just had to ride for good luck around the corner. He was travelling that well, I just needed a gap, but once he got out the rest is history.”
“He is a pretty talented horse. I have no doubt he is good enough to win a Group One over a mile”
“Well done to the owners, they put the money in and they deserve what they get back”
Hitotsu was a $100,000 purchase by Wendy Kelly Racing out of the Arrowfield draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. (learn more about his breeding here)
He is the third foal and second winner from as many to race out of the unraced Redoute's Choice mare Love Is Fickle, a daughter She's A Meanie (Prince Salieri).
She's A Meanie won eight races, highlighted by the Group 1 Avondale Gold Cup.
Mystery Downs / Valiant Stud shelled out $150,000 for a Shalaa (IRE) filly out of Love is Fickle at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She has been named Twelfth Night and is in training with Matthew Smith.
After foaling another daughter of Shalaa (IRE) last spring, Love Is Fickle visited Castelvecchio.
Hitotsu becomes the fourth stakes-winner, second Group 1 winner, and first at the highest level in Australia for the champion miler Maurice (JPN), who shuttles to Arrowfield Stud, where he stands for a fee of $44,000.
