Derby placegetter Golden Century will travel to Sydney next week to contest the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, ahead of a possible tilt at the A$2 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m).
While still a maiden after seven starts, Golden Century has shown promise from his debut and only narrowly missed the top honours in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) in January.
He continued on to the $1.25 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day, where he missed the start and powered home to finish third behind Willydoit and Thedoctoroflove.
Tony Pike has always held the son of Pierro in high regard and the Cambridge horseman was rapt with the performance.
“He was very slow away and probably didn’t have all favours when trying to improve into the race, but he closed off the race very strongly late and his sectionals were some of the best of the race,” Pike said.
“He’s heading the right way, he’s been very much a work in progress but we always thought he would be a genuine stayer and we couldn’t have been happier with the run, albeit not winning.
“He’s come through the race in great order and obviously he seems to be improving with each run, so we’ll take him over for the Tulloch Stakes on Saturday-week, and if he performs well in that, there’s no reason that he won’t back up a week later in the Derby.
“We gave him four or five days in the paddock post-Derby and we just kept him ticking over, he’s dropping back in trip to 2000m for the Tulloch so we’ve tried to freshen him up a touch.
“He’ll gallop tomorrow morning (Thursday) before he heads over next Tuesday.”
While Golden Century was purchased earlier in the season by Australian syndicators OTI Racing, there is no certainty that he will remain across the Tasman after the Derby.
“We’re not quite sure yet, we’ll have that discussion post the Derby with OTI and make that call,” Pike said.
To be run at Royal Randwick, Golden Century is currently rated a $13 chance in the online bookmakers futures market for the Australian Derby, with Willydoit on top at $3.60 ahead of Goldrush Guru ($4.50).
Closer to home this Saturday, Pike will have a sole representative travelling to Trentham in Val Di Zoldo.
A Group Two winner over 2100m, the mare has been in solid form this preparation and will contest the Group 3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m).
“She’s coming up really well, her best form last year was during the autumn as well and she was very unlucky not to win the Travis Stakes at Group Two level,” Pike said.
“Third-up she should be peaking and it looks like a nice race for her, especially with the rain that is around. Any sort of cut in the track will benefit her.”
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