Tuxedo stakes Derby claim

[Wandering Eyes]

A dominant performance in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday has thrust Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) into the top echelon of contenders for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

Tuxedo had already shown plenty of promise in his four-race career, winning twice including the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and finishing second in both of the other two. He chased home Derby favourite Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, then returned to the same venue for a runner-up finish behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

Those performances had left Tuxedo’s connections tossing up between the Derby and the lucrative new $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), which will be run on the same Champions Day card in Auckland on March 8. But Tuxedo made that decision easier with the way he handled the step up to 2000m on Saturday.

Tuxedo settled in third-last for jockey Joe Doyle as Amazing Fluke (The Autumn Sun) led for most of the way around the Te Rapa circuit. Doyle swooped around the outside of the field coming up to the home turn, and Tuxedo loomed ominously in fourth coming into the straight.

Doyle pushed the button and Tuxedo took command, opening up a winning margin of three and a half lengths despite pricking his ears and running around in the final 100m.

“I was very impressed,” Doyle said. “In his last couple of runs, we gave him a squeeze early on from good gates and he seemed to travel a bit too strongly. Today he relaxed so well, so I’m sure he’ll give himself every chance of seeing out a Derby trip.

“He went straight past them in the straight, then pricked his ears and had a good look around. There’s loads left in him. He’s a very exciting horse.

“Opportunities like this don’t come up every day. It’s very exciting to be heading towards a Derby with such a strong chance.

“He’s a three-year-old with a lot of class. He’s still a bit unfurnished, but I have no doubt he’ll give people something to shout about in the Derby.”

The TAB has tightened Tuxedo to $5 in the New Zealand Derby market, sharing second favouritism with stakes-winning filly Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel). Willydoit remains the hot favourite at $2.

Tuxedo was a $70,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023 by Grant Barnett, who shares ownership along with six others. The promising gelding is trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray and has now earned $465,785 from his five-start, three-win career.

“We couldn’t be happier with that,” Murray said. “Joe got him to settle lovely out the back, and then showed a nice turn of foot coming around the bend. He was flicking his ears and looking around in the straight, so there’s a bit left in the tank.

“The more racing he’s done, the better he’s relaxing. He settled great in his work during the week, and seeing that performance today makes us very happy.

“We’re thinking we want to head to a Derby now. What we do with him between now and then depends on how he pulls up from this. Shaune mentioned that Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park) went straight to the Derby from the Waikato Guineas. But we’ll sit down with the owners and make a plan.”

Second favourite Bourbon Proof (Justify) filled the runner-up position on Saturday, with another four and a half lengths back to Amazing Fluke and Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro).

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