Cambridge trainer Roger James is already the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with six wins to his credit, and on Thursday he and training partner Robert Wellwood unveiled another Classic type when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) swept to victory at Avondale.
The three-year-old son of Circus Maximus relished the step up to 1400m when winning the Funtime Catering Maiden after finishing seventh over 1200m on debut at Ellerslie in October.
“We said at the end of his two-year-old preparation that we thought he was potentially a Derby horse for next year,” James said.
“We weren’t disappointed by the first run at all. We thought he might have to go a mile before he broke maiden ranks, but he was quite impressive at Avondale. He ran a good time and won by a good margin and there was quite a margin back to the third horse.
“He’s still feeling his way and he’s got a lot of upside. He relaxes beautifully, breathes beautifully and he trotted up this morning nice and free.”
Road To Paris is now likely to step into Group company as he extends in distance.
“He surprised us yesterday, very pleasantly, so the Derby is certainly firmly in the back of our minds,” James said.
“He’s probably the sort of horse that won’t take a lot of runs, but having said that if all goes well, we will step him up to a mile next start at Otaki in the Gr. 3 Wellington Stakes (1600) on November 30.
“That gives him a nice break until then, and then he’ll progress quietly from there. He’s a quality animal and we are lucky to have him.”
Bred and raced by Ron and Judi Wanless, Road To Paris is out of the four-time winning Savabeel mare Spirit Of Heaven, who is a three-quarter sister to Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Lights Of Heaven.
Road To Paris is by Windsor Park Stud’s promising young sire Circus Maximus, a triple Group One winning European miler by Galileo.
“Ron and Judi are quite involved in New Zealand and have a number of broodmares over here and we have always had an association with them, we buy the odd one for them,” James said.
“They breed to race and this guy was just one that they sent us last year and Ron’s got a philosophy that if they’re not up to Group company in New Zealand, he’ll take them to Queensland, where he lives.
“But you would think this one would stay. We had a horse last year in Oceana Dream who went to the Derby as second or third favourite for them after placing in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m).
“Unfortunately he choked down at about the 600m and didn’t take another breath and dropped out. “We thought he was a big hope and things didn’t go right. We’d love to win a major for them and hopefully this is the horse that can do it.”