Ammirati strengthens NZ Derby claims with easy Salver win

An unusual plan paid big dividends for the connections of Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) when the big gelding confirmed New Zealand Derby plans with a dominant victory in the Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday. With more than a month between his win in the Gr. 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in late November and a fifth placing in last week’s Gr. 2 Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham, trainer Stephen Marsh decided on an eight-day back up for Ammirati’s first middle-distance test. That proved a masterstroke as…