Sydney’s weather provided an extra challenge for horses heading into Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) via the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m), but Tony Pike believes Golden Century will be less disadvantaged than most.
The Tulloch was originally scheduled to be run at Rosehill last Saturday, but that meeting was postponed to Tuesday.
Golden Century lined up in the rescheduled race and finished seventh, making up ground despite racing greenly down the straight.
Pike is happy to press on into Saturday’s Derby at Randwick with the Pierro gelding, who had previously run third behind race rivals Willydoit and Thedoctoroflove in last month’s Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.
“I thought he ran reasonably well in the Tulloch,” the Cambridge trainer said.
“He just raced a little bit fresh. We deliberately kept him on the fresh side for the step back down to 2000m, and he probably just travelled a bit too keenly and wasn’t the easiest horse to ride. He can sometimes be like that.
“In that sense, I think the four-day turnaround into the Derby might actually help him a bit more than some of the others. He worked nicely on Thursday, and if he can settle a bit better in the running, there’s no reason to think he can’t run well in the Derby. He’ll run out a strong 2400m around Randwick better than most.
“Whether he can actually win the race, I’m not sure, but I’d be confident that he won’t be too far away from them at the finish.”
Pike will also keep a close eye on proceedings back home, where he will saddle seven runners at Ellerslie – Wind Rush in the TAB (1600m), Pink Gin in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m), Dimaggio and Overdrawn in the Cambridge Stud Easter Yearlings (1500m), course specialist Rudyard and the resuming Cannon Hill in the Elsdon Park (1300m), and Arundel Castle in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1500m).
“We’ve got a nice, solid team at Ellerslie,” Pike said.
“I thought Wind Rush ran well for second without much luck at Matamata the other day (March 23). He’d have to be a big chance of going one better on Saturday.
“I’ve got a bit of time for the two-year-old filly Pink Gin as well. If she’s able to get across from her wide gate, she’ll be a genuine chance in that race too.
“Hopefully those two can start the day off on a good note for us.”
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