The Group 1 $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) on April 1 is unlikely for the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann despite the colt’s brave all-the-way upset in the 2023 Rosehill Guineas results on Golden Slipper Day.
Lindermann was brave leading all-the-way to win the 2023 Rosehill Guineas on Golden Slipper Day. Photo: Steve Hart.
Improving on a lead-up second in the Randwick Guineas over a mile the son of Lonhro was huge off a simply flawless Nash Rawiller ride in this year’s Group 1 $600,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) to narrowly deny the Godolphin-raced favourite Pericles victory right on the line.
“He’s a real gentle giant, he’s a big boy. Nash woke him up two starts ago when he won over 1400m here and it has been the making of him,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He has really learned to fight and at the same time matured as a man. He showed us a glimpse of ability at Flemington back during Cup week at 1800 and from that point on we said, ‘we’ll set him for this race’. It doesn’t always come off but it has today.
“He ran a good second in the (Randwick) Guineas last start and he did all the work today.”
Rawiller crossed from out wide early on the eventual Rosehill Guineas champ and totally controlled the race from barrier to box.
He made a huge tactical move at the 700m really upping the ante and taking the challengers out of their comfort zone when hitting the button early.
Lindermann responded and revved up to lead onto the home straight where the well-backed favourite Pericles started to really make a move.
Pericles looked a hopeless cause just before the race sweating up badly in the Sydney heat and not at all settled even being loaded into the gates.
Surprising the James Cummings-trained galloper, coming off a Melbourne lead-up win in the Group 2 Autumn Classic, ran well up into second doing the chasing throughout for jockey James McDonald.
McDonald went for home levelling up to Lindermann and Rawiller at the 200m getting his nose in front over the final furlong.
Lindermann looked beaten but rallied in the final 20m to hit the line a nose ahead of the beaten favourite Pericles who was also brave in defeat.
Third went to Williamsburg for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou.
The Rosehill Guineas winner will now likely head to Randwick on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ for shot at the lucrative Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) April 1 instead of being stepped-up to 2400m for the ATC Derby.
“I think he’d have a better chance of going back to a Doncaster. It’s good to have options,” the master trainer said.
Rawiller agreed going so far as to say he’d “hate” to see Lindermann accepted for the Derby.
“I had a lot of faith in him. I don’t think he’s a Derby horse but he’s a deadset Rosehill Guineas horse,” he said.
“I’d like to think he’d be in the Cox Plate in the spring.
“Full credit to him, he’s done his job now.
“I’d hate to think he’s going to the Derby because he doesn’t deserve that.
“He’s a quick genuine miler, strong 2000m horse. God bless him, his ticker and will to win got him through today.”
Despite both Rawiller and Waller’s comments Lindermann has firmed in all-in Australian Derby odds at Ladbrokes from $26 to $7 to complete the double last achieved by Criterion (2014).
The youngster is at a generous $26 to win the Doncaster Mile.
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