The Kentucky Derby is not the only Derby being run this weekend with intrigue aplenty in Adelaide as a field of up and comers chase G1 glory and the Victoria Derby winner seeks redemption.
A capacity field of 16 will step out at historic Morphettville on Saturday to race for Classic glory in the $1million 2025 G1 South Australian Derby.
Inaugurated in 1860 and run at the long-vanished Thebarton racecourse, the great race was won by a mare named Midnight.
After the loss of their racecourse the SAJC existed in name only for quite some time, until they acquired the freehold lease on the land at Morphettville in 1875.
The SA Derby recommenced there from 1876 onwards, and it didn't take long for the race to become part of the national Melbourne Cup conversation when Assyrian won in 1880 and went on to the ultimate glory winning “the Cup” two years later.
Some great horses have won it including one of the Australian turf's best loved stayers “Subbie” - the mighty Subzero - Lee Freedman's Cup winner of 1992.
Gatum Gatum, Ziema, Dayana, Our Pompeii, Shiva's Revenge, Count Chivas, Showella and Mummify are but a few of the SA Derby winners whose names are forever part of Australian turf folklore.
The era of the “Cup raiders” and then the tsunami of talented staying imports purchased and raced by Aussies desperate to remain relevant in the nation's greatest horse race, has inevitably impacted on the Cups record of SA Derby graduates.
But it's still, and will always remain a Classic - a race every trainer wants to win, the validation every breeder desires, and a contest every racing fan wants to watch.
Rarely would the reigning VRC Derby champion start at double figure odds in the SA version, but that’s potentially the case this year with Andrew Gluyas’ increasingly enigmatic stayer Goldrush Guru.
If horses could talk Guru would have a bunch of reporters in his face right now asking him highly personal questions. Because how is he really feeling?
It was all so straightforward in the Spring for the son of American Pharoah but not much has gone right since.
He had no luck in his first two Autumn runs then improved to place in the Australian Guineas, but the Sydney campaign was unimpressive - a bare pass mark after leading fiercely and fading in the Rosehill Guineas was followed by a bona fide poor showing in the Australian Derby when he got back, again raced ungenerously, and never looked like being competitive.
Granted many a good horse has come undone first time in Sydney - but a disconcerting pattern is appearing - last start here in the Derby lead up, the Chairman's Stakes at 2000m, Goldrush Guru again was way too keen.
Although it was a better showing he still finished unplaced.
Leading doesn't seem to be working out that well for the horse, but he wants to argue the case and seems to resent being bustled by other horses.
Perhaps the widest barrier is a blessing in disguise if Jason Holder takes him back and can allow him space to relax a bit in the run. The unknown is, what Goldrush Guru might have in mind when the gates open.
Kiwi bred American Wolf, by hot sire Tivaci out of the winning Zabeel mare Zelitist, is well in the market and coming into this off a gutsy win in the VRC St Leger 2800m for team Busuttin and Young.
He is a half brother to the very good Kiwi staying mare Zee Falls, multiple Group placed at 2400/500 - and closely related to the stallions Warhorse and California Dane through his grand dam by Giant's Causeway.
The horse obviously has much promise but dropping back to 2500 after a week definitely has to be some query, as does the fact that Johnny Allen gets off this stayer to ride the favourite, not that Mark Zahra riding in great form is any disadvantage.
Still, inclined to wait for a Cups campaign later on for American Wolf, who jumps from the middle of this big field.
Kiwi raider Roctave adds plenty of interest after undergoing the “ultimate gear change” and lining up here as a gelding. His sire, the Japan-raced Red Ransom son Roc De Cambes already has a NZ Derby winner and a runner up to his name.
Last start placed at G3 level 2200m in his homeland Rocante is out of the Darci Brahma mare Octave from a daughter of G3 winning sprinter Chant by Traditionally, a full sister to G1 winner Recite, a family better known for speed - but his leading Cambridge conditioner Stephen Marsh has made a successful raid to our shores before with Sofia Rosa taking the G1 AJC Oaks, and his choice to bring Roctave here must be respected. Jordan Childs will steer the Kiwi from barrier 9.
Top Tip: LAVALIER
Bart Cummings was no stranger to winning SA Derbies and his son Anthony nabbed one in 2010 with Shadows In The Sun - now grandson James makes a bid for his first with a blueblood in the famous Godolphin silks.
With Godolphin and Cummings announcing they will be going their separate ways in July after eight successful years, it would be a nice way to sign off that career chapter for Cummings, whose first ever G1 win was the VRC Derby with Prized Icon.
Lavalier is by Darley homebred Microphone, Champion Australian 2YO and Randwick Guineas runner up at 3, out of the blue hen Singspiel daughter Accessories (GB) and as such he is a three quarter brother to the champion Helmet and their gifted sister, ill fated filly Pearls- and a half to successful stallions Epaulette and Bullbars, plus current Group performer Pericles.
Helmet, now domiciled in Italy was a supremely talented 2 and 3 year old racehorse, but a little inconsistent as a stallion, rising to some great heights - he sired back to back Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow - but on the whole not living up to commercial expectations in Australia. He has sired some quality stayers, even a good ‘chaser or two.
The amazing producer Accessories is closely related to the dam of Epsom Derby winner Adayar.
Although Microphone’s sire Exceed and Excel was a pure powerhouse sprinter he has crossed successfully with European lines, getting the likes of 4 x G1 winner Excelebration - the sire of 2024 Adelaide Cup hero Excelleration.
Globetrotting champion Singspiel was a top class sire but like his half brother Rahy a great broodmare sire, currently riding high in that capacity as the damsire of boom stallion Too Darn Hot.
His daughter Libretto foaled the memorable AJC Oaks winner Colette.
The type of speed inherent in the damlines of Microphone come into play in the pedigree of Lavalier, and ironically might actually increase his Derby chances.
Though his dam is a full sister to the champion sprinter Yell, their sire Anabaa is key in a Classic pedigree - a truly dynamic stallion able to impart a rarefied blend of stamina and acceleration in equal measure.
In Australia the Danzig son sired G1 Derby winner Headturner ( AjJC Australian Derby) and his full brother Anacheeva ( Caulfield Guineas, 2nd AJC Australian Derby), Kutchinsky ( Group winner up to 2600m, 4th Adelaide Cup) and internationally many champions of both sexes - Goldikova, Anabaa Blue, Precision, etc.
But his true greatness shines through as a broodmare sire - elite females like Lush Lashes and two-time Arc winner Treve, and superior staying males like Bolshoi Ballet, Southern France and a horse who became dear to Australian racing fans, the incredible Hartnell.
Microphone's third dam Loyal Lyric is by Sir Tristram's Australian Derby / VRC Derby winning son Sovereign Red, a full brother to Melbourne Cup winner Gurner's Lane who has over time built an imposing record as a presence in successful staying pedigrees.
WA Oaks winner Lady Chant and the good stayer Lamasery are closely related to Microphone - as is champion sire Written Tycoon, who is the damsire of recent runaway WA Oaks / Derby winner Machine Gun Gracie.
Lavalier has been patiently handled and has shown staying promise from day one, eyecatching in the Melbourne spring Derby leadups without quite getting into the frame.
He did not contest the VRC Derby and this prep has come into his own with two good placings at 2000/2100 - his powerful closing finish in the G3 Chairman's a real indicator he is looking for the Derby trip now.
Jamie Melham will need to produce a good ride from barrier 15.
As the old saying goes, class will take you a long way in a Derby.
Will it take Lavalier, who is probably the classiest horse in the field on pedigree, a strong 2500m?
With a decent run in transit I think he's a great chance to become Microphone's first Group 1 winner, somewhat of an irony given he has been exported to continue his stud career in South America.
Next best: STATUARIO
Statuario holds Derby favouritism after an easy - basically effortless - last start win in the Galilee Series Final over 2400m at Caulfield. That was off a G2 placing at The Valley over 2000m.
He comes into his target assignment fresher than a few of his rivals and that tends to suit the more naturally gifted stayers.
The appealing grey is a son of So You Think's classy G1 Rosehill Guineas hero D'Argento and is his sires first stakes winner.
D'Argento’s oldest progeny are three year olds and there are a number of promising stayers amongst them.
Out of the good producing Redoute's Choice daughter Fullazz, the stallion is from a family generally known for precocious sprinter milers.
But the So You Think / Redoute's Choice cross produced VRC Derby runner up Inference and Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker was foaled by a daughter of Redoute's close relative Al Maher.
And interestingly in 2023 at Trentham, the G3 Wellington Cup 3200m was run on a heavy 10 track and Contemplation (So You Think x Celeris and thus a close relation to D'Argento) just missed winning that slogfest.
Out of the winning Dash for Cash mare Miss Entice, Statuario is a first foal - and was an absolute bargain buy - $18,000 from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Gold Sale.
Miss Entice is a full sister to tough stayer Boom ‘N’ Zoom (Cranbourne Cup) and they are daughters of Entice, by Last Tycoon.
Statuario's third dam Florinda was placed in the G3 NZ St Leger and was by great sire of stayers Lord Ballina. She became a good producer - her grand daughter Converging second in a Port Adelaide Cup,
It's a particularly tough staying branch of the huge NZ family which descends from the great matriarch Eulogy. Statuario numbers among his close relations Leggings, Cat's Fun, Ebony Honour and Vegas Knight.
D'Argento brings the class with a capital C that was needed to really invigorate this female line and create an exciting Derby horse.
Not much doubt Statuario from barrier 3 will be lapping up the final 100m when many of his rivals have put up the white flag, and there's no better jockey in a staying race than John Allen.
If the grey wins his trainers Emma-Lee and David Brown will have their first and overdue G1 winner with their $18k yearling.
Best value: SCINTILLANTE
This horse would have been my top pick had he not put in a shocker in the Chairman's - the first poor run of his 7 start career. You don't like to see it but excuses can be found and so can plenty of reasons to back him.
Number one - Waikato Stud's equine “holy trinity” - Savabeel, O'Reilly, Pins.
In various combinations the prepotency of these sires has brought forth a cornucopia of Thoroughbred talent.
Where to even start with the incomparable Savabeel? No need to sing the praises of Zabeel's great son - Oaks, Derbies, Cups, Guineas, sprints, weight for age, handicaps - his progeny win them all.
Leaving aside all the other G1 winners harvested from this nick, Savabeel over O'Reilly mares has produced a steady stream of Oaks winners and the Australian Derby winner Major Beel.
Savabeel over Pins alone is responsible for Qld Derby winner Brambles - Savabeel over Pins AND O'Reilly has given us NZ Oaks winner Savvy Coup and VRC Oaks runner up Dowager Queen.
Scintillante's first two dams (by O'Reilly and Pins respectively) were both unraced.
His dam Glistening is a full sister to stakes placed Multifacets by O'Reilly ( 6 wins to 2100m) a half sister to G1 Matriarch Stakes winner Savapinski (Savabeel) and a three quarter sister to Group placed Glitzy, who foaled G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup runner up Glintz to Pins.
Scintillante's 3rd dam Our Twinkle by the great broodmare sire Star Way was a full sister to Darkside, 2nd in a G1 Avondale Cup and fourth here at Morphettville in an Adelaide Cup.
This is the immediate family of Irish Flirt ( dam of good WA sire McFlirt) and top NZ three year old fillies Majestic Angel (dam of a NZ St Leger winner) and Imperial Angel.
This very tough honest family has produced many a good mile/ middle distance performer - the ones that get beyond that have great endurance but can sometimes become a little more one paced.
That's why Scintillante's apparent complete form reversal in the Chairman's might not be as bad as it looked. More likely it was a case of a 200m rise in trip for this backmarker just being nowhere near enough.
Then there's trainer Cliff Brown who has a Derby pedigree to match his horse.
The trainer set up a boutique stables at Mornington in 2021 after a long and hugely successful stint in Singapore.
Prior to that Cliff had won SA Derbies with Cheviot (his first G1 winner), Blue Murder and Markham - the latter went on to earn a special place in Australian turf history when he was a brave third to Might And Power and Doriemus in arguably the greatest Melbourne Cup finish of all time.
Cliff became the youngest trainer ever to train three G1 Derby winners.
Scintillante was purchased by the astute horseman for $120k out of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic sale.
Patiently brought along by his trainer Scintillante's Derby preparation had been going faultlessly with a good third here at 1800m Listed prior to the Chairmans.
Like his rival here Lavalier, Scintillante showed good staying promise in the spring but was spelled and set for this race.
If breeding ( and punting) is all about playing the percentages then you would say, there's a high probability that this is the Derby winner.
Of course it isn't just about that - otherwise no one would have enough room to park their winnings or their retired G1 winners.
Nevertheless statistics are compelling for a reason, and with Billy Egan to guide him from a good draw Scintillante looms as a genuine “dark horse” in the Derby field.
Blowout hope: FEMMINILE
Phillip Stokes’ super genuine Dundeel filly is a good each way roughie bet. In her short career she has been lumped with the “wet tracker” tag - and granted she would love a bit of rain but I feel the distance of the race is more crucial to her hopes than track conditions.
Femminile is bred on a reverse cross to that of the 2017 VRC Oaks winner Pinot who was by Pierro out of Zabeel mare Dizelle.
Dundeel is from a daughter of Zabeel and Femminile is out of Pierro mare Femme Fireball.
Pierro loves duplication of Zabeel, which really emphasizes the toughness and will to win he passes on, and some of his best are bred this way.
The Dundeels are a frequent competitive presence in Oaks, Derbies and St Legers but to date SA Derby winner Dunkel is his only Group One winner in this age group at 2500m.
Femminile's pedigree also taps into a well proven Oaks nick with Fastnet Rock as her second damsire, while Arc winner Peintre Celebre is sire of her third dam and provides a sex balanced line of Nureyev.
Her winning dam Femme Fireball is a full sister to the talented Rock, G1 placed at the Flemington mile and runner up in a G3 Rosehill Gold Cup at 2000m.
Her third dam was a stakes winner by Imposing who appears in many a good stayers pedigree, her fourth dam was real top quality - a G1 winner, placed in The Oaks UK, and a very close relation to versatile stallion Bishop Of Cashel ( sire of Hong Kong Derby / Gold Cup winner Olympic Express and the top class UK ‘chaser Tofino Bay among other stayers - but also the damsire of the half brothers and champion UK sprinters The Tin Man and Deacon Blues).
Femminile was a $ 150,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Stokes /Rick Connolly Bloodstock from the 2023 Vinery draft.
Although the filly was unplaced in the VRC Oaks after a good third in the G2 Ethereal Stakes, that was the sixth start of a pretty demanding first campaign. This time around she's matured and her master trainer has given her a true stayers prep coming to this endurance test fourth up.
Fillies have a good record in the SA Derby and Femminile is bidding to make it consecutive wins for the fairer sex after Coco Sun won last year. Lachlan Neindorf gets the ride on this quality filly who will be giving it her absolute all as usual.
