NEWS
Fiumicino draws clear to win rain-soaked Australian Derby
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2007 2:58 PM
by Delamere Usher
Fiumicino handed jockey Darren Beadman his fourth win of the day and second Group 1 victory as he won the $1,641,999 ($2,012,000 Australian) David Jones A. J. C. Australian Derby by 1 1/4 lengths on Sunday at Royal Randwick.
Miss Finland, aiming for her sixth Group 1 win, was backed as if she was unstoppable in the 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) race for three-year-olds.
Early showers quickly turned to rain, and by the start of the Derby there was a driving downpour, making for a heavy turf course.
Group 1-placed Fiumicino, already a proven winner on heavy turf, started as the second favorite.
Danever took the early lead, with Redoute's Dancer, Fianchetto, and Fiumicino keeping in touch. Miss Finland was midfield while Tuesday Joy, well beaten by Miss Finland in the Arrowfield Stakes the previous week, was last.
As the field rounded the home turn, Tuesday Joy was still bringing up the rear. Miss Finland was midfield but unable to produce her trademark acceleration as the field sped up the rise. Fiumicino, owned by Nick Moraitis, drew level then passed Ambitious General to post a clear victory in 2:36.04.
Ambitious General finished second, five lengths ahead of Tuesday Joy.
Beadman paid tribute post race to trainer Hawkes for “putting the right number of miles” into the three-year-old Zabeel gelding going into the Derby, and “for placing him to perfection” in the gelding's prep races.
Bred in New Zealand by G. W. de Gruchy, Sir Patrick Hogan, and Lady Hogan, Fiumicino finished third behind winner He’s No Pie Eater and runner-up Ambitious General in the Dubai Rosehill Guineas (Aus-G1) on March 24. Fiumicino is out of the Maroof mare Latte.
In other races on the card:
* Bentley Biscuit won $491,253 ($602,100 Australian) Syd City Lexus T. J. Smith Stakes (Aus-G1) to give trainer and part-owner Gai Waterhouse a victory in the race named for her late father.
Spark of Light and Virage De Fortune set off as if they were the only runners in the field of nine in the 1,200-meter (5.96-furlong) weight-for-age race for three-year-olds and older. Spark of Light hung on to his lead as they started the climb up the rise. At the 100-meter mark Bentley Biscuit, ridden by Nash Rawiller, lengthened his stride and powered away to a comfortable win in 1:10.62 on heavy turf.
Runner-up Black Ink finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Virage De Fortune with Dance Hero fourth.
A five-year-old Peintre Celebre gelding bred by Davilora Lodge, Bentley Biscuit is out of the Last Tycoon (Ire) mare Tycoon Joy.
Owned by Waterhouse and G. W. Mooratoff, Bentley Biscuit scored his first Group 1 win as his only previous group stakes win came in the 2006 Coast Clothing Shorts (Aus-G3).
* The second leg of the Juvenile Triple Crown, the $368,868 ($452,000 Australian) AJC Sires' Produce Stakes (Aus-G1) was another triumph for the Hawkes-Beadman combination who teamed to win the Australian Derby.
Hurricaneprince made most of the running in the 1,400-meter (6.96-furlong) race, with Marching, Murtajill, and Sashenka near the pace. Camarilla was last throughout in the 11-horse field, and took the turn wide into the stretch.
Hurricaneprince surrendered the lead as they started the run up the rise, with Murtajill, Sashenka, and Meurice settling down to fight to the finish. Camarilla stormed into contention from the outside, effortlessly reeling in her rivals to win going away by two lengths in 1:25.18.
"She is getting better with every start,” Beadman said of the Elusive Quality filly. “She's a lovely, competitive filly. It was just a matter of getting her rhythm and letting her go when she was ready."
Runner-up Meurice finished one-length clear of Sashenka.
Camarilla, winner of the Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Prelude (Aus-G3), finished second in the Magic Night Stakes (Aus-G2) sponsored by the Leagues Club at Rosehill on March 24.
Bred by Darley Australia Pty Ltd, Camarilla is out of the Danehill mare Camarena.
Delamere Usher is an Australia-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
