There is no time like early spring to start dreaming of Derby glory, and that is the case for connections of impressive Sandown winner Giddy Up Warrior.
The son of Saxon Warrior is a graduate of last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale and has been widely promoted through media personality Gareth Hall’s SEN radio show Giddy Up, after which the gelding is named.
Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Giddy Up Warrior relished getting out to 1500m to prevail as the $2.25 favourite at his third raceday start, having put the writing on the wall when runner-up to Delivering at Sandown last start.
“Every start he has just improved and even today he was still a bit raw,” Ben Hayes said. “When he hit the front, he wobbled around and didn’t quite know how to put them away but it was a great ride by Mark Zahra.
“He had a beautiful run, came down the middle of the track and it was good to see him win.
“There was good speed and he relaxed and did everything right. It is great for Gareth and his ownership group and a good way to get in his good books.
“Credit to my brother JD. Gareth and JD teamed up and they picked this horse up from the Ready To Run Sale in New Zealand so it has been a nice quick turnaround for everyone and they have enjoyed it.
“We are hoping he can get out over a bit further. He has got to tell us every time when we ask him to but he is bred to. He is a lovely long horse, and he is only improving into the preparation, and he could be a sneaky Derby chance or something like that.”
Winning rider Mark Zahra was also impressed with the performance.
“It was a good win. He feels like a horse that will get over a bit of ground,” Zahra said.
“I was hoping I’d be a spot closer to be honest but I didn’t have the speed so I had to travel where I could.
“I was stuck behind a horse in front and as froggy (Craig Newitt) does, he pinched a margin (on runner-up Brullen). It was a good effort as he had to quickly change gears as they put four or five lengths on me, and he toughed it out and was good across the line.”
By former Coolmore shuttler Saxon Warrior, Giddy Up Warrior is out of the handy staying mare Persian Star, who won seven races including the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m). Th
Lindsay Park went to $140,000 to purchase Giddy Up Warrior from the draft of Riversely Park at last year’s Ready To Run Sale.
The A$2 million VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington is the long-range target on November 2.
