Bart Sinclair's Preview - Moët & Chandon Derby Day

 
It’s thirty years since a Kiwi three-year-old has been successful in the Queensland Derby but Dark Destroyer has superb credentials to end the drought at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Kiwi filly Royal Magic, ridden by Lance O’Sullivan, won the Derby in 1992. Now O’Sullivan is in the corner of Dark Destroyer as co-trainer with Andrew Scott.

Dark Destroyer started sending signals he was up to top class events last October. At his second start he won a 1300 metres Maiden on a heavy track at Taupo. Just 19 days later he finished a solid third in a Group 2 race over 1400 metres at Te Rapa.

He rounded off his first racing preparation with a victory in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas over 1600 metres at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Dark Destroyer resumed in the Daybreak Lover over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on April 16. He raced forward wearing blinkers for the first time and faded in the home straight to wind up a disappointing seventh.

Blinkers were removed next appearance when a clearly fitter Dark Destroyer came from well back to finish a game second to Character in the Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on April 30.

O’Sullivan-Scott then decided to test Dark Destroyer as a Derby prospect by jumping him up to the Rough Habit a fortnight ago. He had to cope with a distance rise to 2143 metres, the first time he had raced beyond a mile.

Down the back straight Dark Destroyer was back near last but his rider Sam Weatherly bravely started a circling run from the 1200 metres to join the leaders at the home turn and bravely hold the lead all the way down the long Eagle Farm straight.

He had easily passed a stern staying test.

Runner-up in the Rough Habit was another emerging stayer Paternal. He was in the second half of the field and his rider Jimmy Orman elected to stay near the rails to run Dark Destroyer to a half neck margin.

Paternal’s trainer Chris Waller has won the Derby twice. He was successful with Hawkspur in 2013 and last year with Kukeracha. Rider Hugh Bowman won the classic on Ruthven in 2017.

Dark Destroyer and Paternal head the betting market. It’s worth noting 25 winners of the past 30 Queensland Derbies have been won by horses starting under $10. Form horses usually come to the fore.