Champion trainer Chris Waller has claimed back-to-back Victoria Derby wins as short-priced favourite Riff Rocket edged Apulia in a thrilling finish at Flemington.
Key points:
- Riff Rocket held off the challenge of Apulia to win
- Waller has now won three Victoria Derbys
- Ozzmosis won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes
Ridden by top jockey James McDonald, Riff Rocket surged to the front and held off the challenge of fast-finishing Apulia to win Saturday’s 2,500 metres Group 1 feature by a nose.
Sunsets had led in the straight and was a brave third for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
“I’ve been blessed with a couple of really good photos (photo finishes) and I was just hoping it was the same as well. He was fantastic,” McDonald told Network 10.
“It’s such a test for these young horses, but it’s a great race to ride. You need everything to go your way.”
It was Waller’s third win in the last nine editions of Australia’s oldest classic, after triumphs with Preferment in 2014 and Manzoice last year.
“It’s called Derby Day and this is the Group 1 that you want to be winning on the day, and we’ve been fortunate enough to go back-to-back,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.
“The race unfolded beautifully in terms of the way James positioned him.
“Everything looked like it was going to plan and sort of approaching the turn it looked like he was just coming off the bridle a little bit early, so that obviously gave us a little bit of a worry.
“I thought he had the horse directly to his inside covered, but obviously the eventual second placegetter really challenged us late.”
It was more heartbreak for Apulia co-trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes, a week after their Cox Plate runner-up Mr Brightside was edged by Romantic Warrior.
“It just shows how hard they (Group 1 races) are to win and you’ve got to enjoy them when you can,” Ben Hayes said.
“Mark (Zahra) rode him beautifully. I think if he was maybe to the outside we might’ve been able to win.
“But full credit to the winner, it got us on the line.”
Earlier, Rachel King piloted outsider Ozzmosis to a famous victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m).
I Am Unstoppable was second for new training partnership Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans in Australia’s premier stallion-making race, with Waller’s Shinzo third.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Pride Of Jenni walked home late but hung on to win the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes after a gutsy ride from Declan Bates.
Retiring champion jockey Damien Oliver had a great start to his final Melbourne Cup carnival, piloting winners in two of the first three races on Saturday.
Meanwhile in Sydney, Japanese raider Obamburumai shot past more experienced rivals under Josh Parr to pinch the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.
James Cummings-trained duo Pericles and Golden Mile filled the minor placings.
AAP
dan