NEWS
Dealer Principal earns breakthrough win, Zarita bests males
Posted: Saturday, April 12, 2008 4:10 PM
by Mike Curry
Dealer Principal continued his meteoric rise to prominence with a three-quarter-length victory in the $469,153 Dubai Rosehill Guineas (Aus-G1) on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney.
The three-year-old Flying Spur gelding earned the Group 1 victory in only his fifth career start for trainer Anthony Cummings, who compared Dealer Principal to Hotel Lodge, winner of the 2006 Thrifty Royal Randwick Guineas (Aus-G1).
"We did something similar with Hotel Grand a couple of years ago, but it is unusual to see a horse go through the grades like Dealer Principal has in his first preparation,'' Cummings told Australia’s Daily Telegraph. “He is something special.''
Runner-up Kingda Ka edged AAMI Victoria Derby (Aus-G1) runner-up Littorio by a half-length.
Jockey Peter Robl, who moved his family to Sydney in January, also earned his first career Group 1 win.
Dealer Principal entered off a third-place finish in a handicap race on March 29 at Royal Randwick. Cummings said he will point Dealer Principal to the AJC Australian Derby (Aus-G1) on April 26 at Randwick.
"We don't want to bottom him out in his very first preparation,'' Cummings told the Daily Telegraph. “So if the Derby comes up too quickly for him then we won't be sending him around. I'll let the horse tell me. If he's fit and well and still improving, we'll go to the Derby.''
Schweppes Oaks (Aus-G1) winner Zarita added to her burgeoning resume on Saturday at Morphetteville, where she defeated males to capture the $302,362 A. V. Jennings South Australian Derby (Aus-G1).
The Pentire filly stalked the pace under jockey Greg Childs in the 2,500-meter (12.43-furlong) race and seized command entering the straight. Zarita accelerated clear and dug in gamely to repel a late bid from runner-up Zagreb and prevail by three-quarters of length in 2:39.53 on turf rated as dead.
Pat Hyland trains Zarita for owner Pendant Equine Syndicate. Hyland said she will be pointed to the AJC Australian Oaks (Aus-G1) on April 30 at Randwick.
Out of the Defensive Play mare Gin Player, Zarita became the first filly since Showella in 1999 to win the South Australian Derby.
Also on the card, Shadoways utilized a ground-saving trip under jockey Mark Pegus to post a 1 3/4-length score in $279,132 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood Handicap (Aus-G1).
The Encosta de Lago gelding shook free entering the straight and remained clear while completing 1,200 meters (5.97 furlongs) in 1:09.36 on turf rated as dead for trainer Gwenda Johnstone.
Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
