Peter Didham will be on a two-fold mission to Christchurch this month with his promising three-year-old Danjuro (NZ) (Saxon Warrior).
The Awapuni trainer is firstly focussing on a crack at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11, but is also mindful of the future benefits the southern venture will bring.
Danjuro has earned his place in the age group feature with quality performances in his two appearances and the trip away will stand the son of Saxon Warrior in good stead for assignments later in the season.
“He’s really well and galloped nicely on Tuesday. It would probably have been nice to go there for his fourth run and not his third and he’s going to learn a lot from it all going forward,” Didham said.
“All the good trainers take their horses away and they just keep improving, so the trip is going to do him good.”
Danjuro was a debut winner over 1200m at Woodville in September and last month overcame a slow start at Trentham to finish runner-up behind the Kevin Myers-trained Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin).
“The ability is there now but he is a big, raw sort and will improve mentally and physically and I think he is a chance of being a Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) horse,” Didham said.
“He went super at Wellington, it was a really good run and Bozo is pretty smart.”
Bred by Cambridge Hunt, Danjuro was secured by Didham for $140,000 out of Curraghmore’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
He is a son of the Shinko King mare Kabuki (NZ), who is a half-sister to the late Group One winner and successful sire Tavistock and the family of the dual Gr.2 Moonee Valley Cup (2600m) Precedence and the Listed Japan Cup (2400m) winner Jupiter Island.
“He’s a lovely horse and I’ve always had a lot of time for him,” Didham said.
Danjuro is currently sharing the fifth line of betting at $14 in the Guineas market.
“Crocetti is obviously pretty good, but I think the others look quite even. It’s good stake money and we’ve got to go and chase it,” Didham said.
