Alaskan God left connections dreaming of a Melbourne Cup following his commanding victory in Saturday’s Schweppes-W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m) at Ascot.
Coming from worse than midfield and in danger of running into traffic problems, Alaskan Gold exploded when Chris Parnham extracted him to the centre of the track.
The Dan Morton trained son of Playing God careered away for a three and a quarter defeat of the Rommel gelding Pale Rider with a further one and a quarter lengths back to the Blackfriars gelding Black Fantasy in third.
It was the fifth consecutive win for Alaskan God since a debut seventh at Northam last October.
With Morton in Melbourne, stable foreman Vince Collica said there is no telling where the gelding can take them.
“What a relief, the monkey’s off the back,” Collica said.
Once
Chris peeled out, he just exploded. He relaxes and has a great turn of foot and is a great stayer. There is plenty of upside with this horse.
“Dan touted him a Melbourne Cup horse. I don’t want to go the early crow, but he might have something there.”
A $90,000 purchase by his trainer from the Mungrup Stud at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Alaskan God advances his record to five wins from six starts with earnings of $425,200.
He is the best of three winners from four to race from Lady Alaska (Reset), a half-sister to Group II Adelaide Breeders' Stakes winner Great Glen.
Purchased by Graham Cox for $7,000 at the 2020 Mungrup Stud Dispersal, Lady Alaska had a brother to Alaskan God sell for $80,000 at the 2022 Magic Million Perth Yearling Sale.
After foaling a Playing God filly last spring, Lady Alaska visited the Darling View Thoroughbreds stallion again.
