Fancies draw wide in SA Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

Leading Victorian hopes Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) and Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) drew wide for Saturday’s A$1 million South Australian Derby (2500m) when acceptances dropped on Tuesday morning for the capacity field.

Chairman’s Stakes winner Bold Soul has drawn barrier 12 with Jake Noonan in the saddle, while Damian Lane and Warmonger came up with gate 14.

Jamie Kah on the in-form Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) for Team McEvoy has drawn barrier 10, with Craig Williams to her outside aboard the Chris Waller-trained VRC St Ledger winner Ahuru.

Lachlan Neindorf will aim for a second Group One victory in a week and has drawn perfectly in barrier five on the progressive A Samurai Mind (Shamus Award).

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will saddle up three runners with Warmonger (14) to be joined in the field by Shinjuku (NZ) (Tarzino) (two) and Tulsa King (Kermadec) (17) as all three back up from the Chairman’s Stakes.

“It’s an usual program with the horses on the seven-day back-up, in the past we’ve won that race with Jungle Magnate and two weeks later come back across to win the Derby, so all the Chairman’s horses are in the same boat,” Kent Jnr explained.

“Our horses have all stayed at Chris Beig’s and they have done some water-walker work and going to the beach this week and have pulled up very well.”

Kent Jnr identified Warmonger as the stable’s leading fancy, who will have the blinkers removed to help him begin better and run out the extended trip.

“I think Warmonger on what they have done is the leady fancy for sure … hoping he gets 2500 metres strongly and he is a top-three chance for sure,” he said.

“Tulsa King had a more-economical run but is bred to this trip and I think he’ll stay and Shinjuku probably has to improve a bit to be in the finish but he was in the worst ground on Saturday, so if I could make a case for him that would be it.”

Kent Jnr is hopeful barrier 14 will not be a disadvantage for Warmonger given how the track played last week and Vibrant Sun’s (The Autumn Sun) Australian Oaks win from barrier 11.

“The rail has only gone out two metres, so if they are coming to the same section as seven days ago you would have to think middle-to-outside barriers,” he said.

“On Saturday, Vibrant Sun’s barrier as the day went on all of a sudden became alright and wide barriers were favored.”

Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) won the South Australian Derby in 2023.

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