Astute trainer Roger James claimed the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for a record seventh time on Saturday when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus), ridden by George Rooke, defeated stablemate Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) in a stirring edition of the race.
Despite his wayward tendencies, the son of Circus Maximus dashed passed the runner-up to score comfortably and survived a double protest before being confirmed as the winner.
The victory provided James’ training partner Robert Wellwood with his second New Zealand Derby success and reaffirmed the appropriate name of the duo’s Kingsclere Stables.
“I often reflect on it (Derby success) because when I went training on my own, I wanted a name for the stable,” James said. “I pondered what race would I most like to win in my career and naturally it was the Derby.
“So, I researched the home of the Derby in England and a name kept coming up that had housed a number of winners of the Epsom Derby. It was Parkhouse Stables in Kingsclere, so that’s how Kingsclere Stables got its name, and it’s been very good to me.”
Home to no less than ten Derby winners, including the great Mill Reef, Parkhouse Stables set a particularly high bar.
But Kingsclere Stable’s Classic ambitions show no signs of abating, with Road To Paris now likely to cross the Tasman after coming through his Ellerslie exertions well, with the Gr.1 Australian Derby at Randwick on April 4 a logical target.
James and Wellwood have long had Derby aspirations for the Ron and Judi Wanless bred and raced gelding, but his unique quirks have and continue to provide his conditioners with some headaches.
“He is a lovely horse around the stable, but he can be quirky to work with,” James said. “He has done a few U-turns and left riders in mid-air in his work as well as on raceday. It’s a shame that he’s like that because he has unlimited ability and hopefully he will grow out of it.
“But sometimes the riders suffer because of his quirkiness, and I see George got 12 days suspension and a ten thousand dollar fine, which was a bit of a dampener, really.
“As a two-year-old, we labelled him as a Derby horse. He just had a lovely, relaxed way of going, he always breathed beautifully in his work, a very economical action and just looked like he would stay all day.
“We could see that he had a turn off foot and if they can stay and have a turn of foot, they have got a very big chance in a race like the Derby.”
James and Wellwood will now work with connections of each of their three Derby runners to determine plans going forward, including Oaks fourth placegetter Ariadne (NZ) (Almanzor) who finished 12th on Saturday.
“Ariadne will definitely go to the paddock,” James said. “She was always the frailest one to get ready and we pushed the boat and lined her up again after the Oaks. Was it the right thing to do? I still think it probably was, but her lack of maturity showed out yesterday.
“Autumn Glory, I have yet to speak to Yulong (owners) as to what their plans are with her, but she has had two mile and a half races in a fortnight, so she is due a spell as well.
“Road To Paris I have yet to really discuss with the owners and connections but I would think Sydney is very much on the plan for him.”