“I heard George Simon (commentator) say I had them in trouble down the straight, and it put a smile on my face. Legarto couldn’t have caught him today – no way.”
The front-running Kiwi-bred mare broke the hearts of her rivals under a daring Declan Bates ride to claim the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day at Flemington, ahead of fellow Kiwi mares Atishu and Life Lessons.
Quality three-year-old Desert Lightning may be given another chance to add to his three-year-old record after finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni on Saturday.
Byerley Park trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata look to have a smart juvenile on their hands in the form of Crocetti, who was successful in the Dad’s Pies 1100m at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Classy three-year-old Desert Lightning thrust himself to the forefront of discussions surrounding the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby when he narrowly defeated Waitak to claim victory in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas at Pukekohe.
