2021 New Zealand Derby

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The 2021 New Zealand Derby was a Group I horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday 7 March 2021. It was the 146th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Rocket Spade. [1] [2]

Contents

Because of restrictions around public gatherings following an outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland, the race was run a day later than its original date and with a limited audience of owners and Auckland Racing Club members.[ citation needed ]

Rocket Spade became the second consecutive son of champion sire Fastnet Rock to win the Derby, following on from Sherwood Forest in 2020. [3]

Bred by Sun Kingdom, Rocket Spade was sold for A$425,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. He is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, and trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata. O'Sullivan was a two-time Derby winner as a jockey but had never previously won the race as a trainer, while Scott saddled Cut the Cake and Xcellent to win back-to-back runnings of the Derby in the early 2000s. [4]

Rocket Spade had shown promise in the spring but had been slightly off the very best three-year-olds, finishing fourth in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial and fifth in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas. But he returned as a different horse in the new year, rising to Derby favouritism with strong victories in the Auckland Guineas and Avondale Guineas. [5]

The Derby was run at a muddling speed, with several horses taking turns in the lead. The pace went right out of the race as they came down the side of the course, and the field bunched right up with less than six lengths covering the 14 runners. Rocket Spade had dropped back to last, but jockey Craig Grylls was happy to bide his time and stick to the inside part of the track.

A gap opened at the top of the straight and Rocket Spade made his move. Grylls drove him through that opening and he quickly surged into contention, with Milford and Frontman joining him in a three-way battle to the finish. Rocket Spade fought off those two rivals, reaching the line a short neck in front of Milford. Frontman finished another short head behind in third.

Rocket Spade made amends for Hermitage and the O'Sullivan/Scott team, who had finished fourth a year earlier with the Derby favourite Dragon Leap. [6]

The race time, 2:35.51, was the second slowest time recorded in Derby history. [7]

Race details

Full result

MarginHorseJockeyTrainer(s)Odds
1 Rocket Spade Craig Grylls Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott$4.30
2Short neckMilfordLeith InnesStephen Marsh$10.50
3Short headFrontmanDanielle Johnson Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman$13.10
4½Il Affare Johnathan Parkes Peter & Dawn Williams$15.90
5HeadIffie ShowsSam WeatherleySteven Cole$115.20
6¾Montre Moi Lisa Allpress Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard$4.70
7NoseTokorangiAndrew Calder Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard$6.30
81Jason BelltreeVinnie ColganBruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley$8.40
96½Lord ArdmoreMichael McNabStephen McKee$16.50
101½Tribute KingRyan ElliottShaune Ritchie & Colm Murray$63.80
111½GripSam Collett Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard$62.50
122TannahillJonathan RiddellAndrew Campbell$28.50
138Perfect Scenario Opie Bosson Jamie Richards $11.60
1413Edge Of WonderWiremu PinnTeam Rogerson$104.00

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Rocket Spade :

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances prior to running in the 2021 Derby.

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2021 New Zealand Derby.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Rocket Spade wins thrilling New Zealand Derby | NZ Racing News". 7 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ellerslie Sunday 7th March 2021". www.punters.com.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Thoroughbred Horse Pedigree Query".
  4. ↑ "New Zealand Derby | Past Winners | Results | New Zealand". 4 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Horse Profile / NZRacing".
  6. ↑ "Race 9 VODAFONE NZ DERBY® at AUCKLAND RC on 29 FEB 2020 | LOVERACING.NZ".
  7. ↑ "Thoroughbred Horse Pedigree Query".
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