2012 New Zealand Derby

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The 2012 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 3 March 2012. It was the 137th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Silent Achiever. Silent Achiever was the first filly to win the race in 19 years, and just the fourth since 1966. Silent Achiever gave trainer Roger James his fifth victory in the race.

Contents

Silent Achiever was still a maiden at the time early nominations for the Derby were taken. She was not nominated for the race, and neither her connections nor the public gave her any consideration as a Derby contender. But that all changed with an incredible series of stakes victories against males over the 2011/12 summer - the Group 2 Championship Stakes on January 1, the Group 3 Waikato Guineas on January 28 and the Group 2 Avondale Guineas on February 18. In these races Silent Achiever emphatically beat most other serious Derby contenders and established herself as the outright favourite for the race.

Silent Achiever was a little slow to begin in the Derby, and she was a long way off the pace for much of the race. But jockey James McDonald made a bold, sustained move around the outside of the field around the far turn, and Silent Achiever hit the lead soon after the field turned for home. She held her advantage strongly to the line, drawing away to beat 2000 Guineas winner Rock 'n' Pop by two and a half lengths.

Race details

Full result

PlacingMarginHorseJockeyTrainer(s)Odds
1 Silent Achiever James McDonald Roger James $2.10
2 Rock 'n' Pop Matthew CameronJason Bridgman$9.40
3HeadCarrickLeith InnesTony Pike & Mark Donoghue$13.90
4ChicharitaLisa Cropp Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken$8.90
51ZurellaJason WaddellShaune Ritchie$14.10
6NeckTravoltaMark HillsJohn Kiernan$39.80
73Red ShiftMichael ColemanRegan Donnison$18.70
8NeckRoaminTrudy ThorntonRobert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield$103.80
9ShukaHayden TinsleyPeter & Dawn Williams$9.20
101AngelologyKelly MyersKevin Myers$14.60
11½JeroboamChad OrmsbyGraham Richardson$73.50
122Colorado SunPatrick HolmesShane Crawford$112.70
13BarneyCraig GryllsAnne Herbert$80.50
141Guess What Noel Harris Paul Shailer$72.80
15½Nine PinDanielle Johnson Leo Molloy $80.10
1613Mr ChezSam Spratt Graeme & Debbie Rogerson$37.10

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Silent Achiever :

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances in 2011-12 prior to running in the Derby.

  • Silent Achiever3rd Eight Carat Classic, 1st Championship Stakes, 1st Waikato Guineas, 1st Avondale Guineas
  • Rock 'n' Pop2nd Ray Coupland Stakes, 1st New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 1st Karaka Mile, 3rd International Stakes
  • Carrick3rd Avondale Guineas
  • Chicarita1st Royal Stakes, 6th Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic
  • Zurella1st Eulogy Stakes, 5th Royal Stakes, 1st Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic
  • Travolta4th Avondale Guineas
  • Red ShiftNo stakes races
  • Roamin5th Avondale Guineas
  • Shuka1st Ray Coupland Stakes, 2nd Canterbury Stakes, 5th New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 4th Great Northern Guineas, 2nd Championship Stakes, 3rd Waikato Guineas, 2nd Avondale Guineas
  • AngelologyNo stakes races
  • JeroboamNo stakes races
  • Colorado Sun - 8th Avondale Guineas
  • Barney - 3rd Championship Stakes Prelude, 6th Championship Stakes, 7th Waikato Guineas
  • Guess What - 4th Waikato Guineas, 11th Avondale Guineas
  • Nine Pin - No stakes races
  • Mr Chez - 4th Geelong Classic, 11th Victoria Derby, 6th Avondale Guineas

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2012 New Zealand Derby.

See also

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