Written by Paul Vettise
History and TAB bookmakers have Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) favourite to win next month’s G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby and rightly so after a glance at his form and through the record book.
He won for the third time in his five-start career when he triumphed at Ellerslie in Saturday’s G2 Schweppes Avondale Guineas, the main lead-up to the big 3-year-old dance back at the Auckland course in March .
The Guineas became the main lead-up to the Derby when it moved in 2011 to its current date and, since then, all but one winner of the Classic has come through the 2100 metre contest.
The odd one out was tossed up the year it shifted its place on the calendar from December to February when the subsequent New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park) was successful in the Blue Riband event.
“I think this horse is more of a genuine stayer.” – Tony Pike.
Surely Sacred is trained by Tony Pike, who produced Rangipo (Stryker) to complete Guineas-Derby double in 2016.
Surely Sacred
“I think this horse is more of a genuine stayer,” Pike said. “Rangipo was a true professional. He was having his 10th run for the season when he won the Derby.
“He was a real warrior, but I think this one has a touch of class. I hope we can do it again.”
The winner of the G2 Auckland Guineas on New Year’s Day, Surely Sacred settled back in the field before rider Vinnie Colgan urged the gelding into another gear 800 metres from home.
“They put the pressure on a fair way out and opened up the field,” Pike said. “Vinnie elected to get on his bike and that was probably the winning of the race.”
“Vinnie elected to get on his bike and that was probably the winning of the race.” – Tony Pike.
Surely Sacred got to the front half-way down the straight and he held a strong gallop to down In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) and Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
“It was a good, tough win and there’s a bit more juice in the tank yet,” Pike said. “He’ll improve off that again.
“It’s all pretty straight forward from now over the next two weeks. It’s just about maintenance work and keeping him happy.”
Surely Sacred was bred by Waikato Stud and sold to Raffles Racing for NZ$160,000 during the Premier session of the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
“It was a good, tough win and there’s a bit more juice in the tank yet.” – Tony Pike.
He is out of the Masterclass (USA) mare Not Sure (NZ), and is a half-sister to the G3 Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). She subsequently produced Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who won the G1 Queensland Oaks for Pike.
Surely Sacred as a yearling
Surely Sacred’s pedigree also features the Waikato Stud-bred Taupo Retreat (NZ) (Centaine), winner of the G1 November H. in South Africa.
The performance of the runner-up In A Twinkling was meritorious after drawing wide and covering ground early before rider Rosie Myers elected to go forward. He was clearly headed and found a second wind in the closing 300 metres to rally for second money.
In A Twinkling is trained by Jamie Richards and 20 minutes later Te Akau gained a measure of compensation when stablemate Weaponry (Declaration Of War {USA}) won the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas at Invercargill.
“He’s a beautiful colt and I’ve been waiting to run him over ground.” - Stephen Marsh.
The Stephen Marsh-trained Vernanme made late ground to take third in the Ellerslie age group feature after a pre-race cloud cast doubt over his participation.
A plate moved and he had to be reshod and had to undergo a veterinary examination before the G1 Levin Classic runner-up was cleared to run.
“He’s a beautiful colt and I’ve been waiting to run him over ground,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’ll be spot on for the Derby.”
Bred and raced by Kevin Hickman and Vern Trillo, Vernanme is a brother to the G1 Australian Derby and G1 Australian Guineas winner Shamrocker (NZ) and a half-brother Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn). She won a G1 Auckland Cup for Pike and Raffles.
