A ride for the scrapbook by James McDonald resulted in Riff Rocket winning Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2400) at Randwick and joining an exclusive club to win the classics in Sydney and Melbourne.
Riff Rocket defies Ceolwulf (image Steve Hart)
The Chris Waller-trained son of American Pharoah (USA) came from well back in a strung-out field to deny the Tavistock colt Ceolwulf by a neck with four and a quarter lengths back to the So You Think colt Ceolwulf in third.
With his third win at the elite level, Riff Rocket advances his record to seven wins, two seconds, and a third from eleven starts with earnings of $3,508,625.
It was Chris Waller's first win in the race.
“It’s pretty special, simple as that, and these guys (owner Debbie Kepitis and the Ingham family) were here before I had the first Group 1 winner so it’s fitting,” Waller said.
“I don’t cry as much as I used to but this one’s pretty special.
“He’s done a great job, he’s an amazing horse, he puts himself into the race at the right time.
“Amazing ride from James. He didn’t panic being back there; it was a truly run Derby, and we had that question mark over his staying ability. How dare we?
“He’d won a Victorian Derby, he’s by American Pharoah, who’s a Derby winner and went beyond that in the Preakness and the Belmont for the Triple Crown. I guess that’s where he gets his stamina.
“Well done to the Kepitis team, they’re great supporters of ours.
“We did it properly, we assessed after the Rosehill Guineas where he fits in and the form experts said go to the Derby. Simple as that.”
It was a second win in the Derby for James McDonald.
Building an imposing record (image Steve Hart)
“I got inspired by Tyler’s ride (On Celestial Legend). What he can do I can do better.”
“I was (worried) at the 300, because he didn’t spend a penny getting there but I could feel he was out on his feet because the distance range is as far as he wants but his will to win, tenacity and finding the line is incredible.
“It’s definitely not his trip, that’s for sure, he was out on his feet but he’s tough. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s solid as a rock this horse and you’d love him at war with you.
“They’re (the owners) so loyal and I love their passion for these horses, they just live and breath these horses and they bred this one, so he’s extra special and I’m so rapt for them.”
A homebred for Debbie Kepitis’s Woppitt Bloodstock, Riff Rocket was foaled and raised at Coolmore and is the only winner from two to race for the Smart Missile mare Missile Coda, the winner of five of her 13 starts and runner-up to Savannah Amour in the Listed Hinkler Stakes at Doomben.
A $400,000 Magic Millions yearling, Missile Coda is out of the talented Lonhro mare Rain Melody, a three-quarter sister to I Believe (dam of multiple Group II winner and Group 1-placed Rain Affair and Listed winner Ranges), and a half-sister to Listed winner Walk Alone.
Missile Coda has a 2-year-old Nicconi filly named Codetta in the Michael Freedman stable. She was covered by Home Affairs last spring after missing to him in 2022.
