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Given a maiden won last year's Australian Derby, it's not overly surprising that only four horses from the race have come out and won since.
Photo by Racing and Sports
A new Australian staying star emerged when Ethiopia powered past Polish Knight to win the race by a head, but the form out of the race in the 12 months since has ranged from very strong to downright ordinary.
None of the top five in the race have won since, although Ethiopia has indicated there's a promising future waiting for him on the turf if he can overcome his injury concerns.
His fourth placing in the Cox Plate over the spring is a testament to that.
But Polish Knight never really came back in the Spring failing to run any better than ninth in four starts.
Injury has also struck the Hawkes-trained runner, just as it's hit last year's Derby third placegetter in Laser Hawk. He missed the entire spring, and just as he looked to be nearing his best again following an impressive second in the Newcastle Newmarket last month, he hurt his tendon in the George Ryder last week.
Strike The Stars, who ran fourth in last year's Derby, has proven to be a non-winner while the fifth-placed Rekindled Alliance died suddenly in a track gallop last year.
There were some good stories out of the race though.
New Zealander Silent Achiever won the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) over the Spring and missed by a head in last weekend's Group 1 BMW (2400m).
Compatriot Sangster went on to win the Auckland Cup earlier this year and Hoylonny has won three times since the Derby, albeit in Benchmark company.
Darci Be Good, who finished 11th in the Derby last year, is the only other galloper to have won since. He triumphed in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) back in November.
THE CLASS OF 2012
1ST - Ethiopia
Came into the race as a maiden 12 months ago, but proved too good in a thrilling finish. The Pat Carey-trained stayer sat at the rear for the most part, peeled the widest coming around the bend and powered home the strongest to finish a head clear of Polish Knight, who looked the winner 100m from home. He remains winless since winning the Derby, but showed potential over the spring to suggest there could be more major race wins to come if he can stay injury free. After a pair of midfield showings in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) and the Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Ethiopia produced a superb fourth in the Cox Plate before being eased out of the Melbourne Cup with injury.
Best run since the Derby: That Cox Plate performance was super, and indicated he was the real deal. He finished 4.5L off the winner Ocean Park, and less than half a length behind third-placegetter Pierro. In the process he beat home Shoot Out, Green Moon and More Joyous, amongst others. The run was given a Timeform rating of 119, just two pounds below his Australian Derby figure.
2ND - Polish Knight
Surprised many when winning the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at 30-1 the start prior and as a result was well backed in the Derby. The team Hawkes-trained runner stumbled out of the gates and was at the tail of the field before jockey Dwanye Dunn settled him just worse than midfield on the rail. Dunn made his move at around the 350m and looked the winner 100m out before being collared by Ethiopia late. He went on to have a short spring campaign where he contested four strong Group races but was unable to capture his form in the Derby. Polish Knight has not been seen since he bled in the Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick in October of last year.
Best run since the Derby: Finished ninth in his first run back from the Derby which came in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes. Over an unsuitable distance of 1400m he was beaten 3L by Pinwheel and managed to beat home horses like Lights Of Heaven and Rock ‘N’ Pop. The run was given a Timeform rating of 113 well off his Derby figure of 121.
3RD - Laser Hawk
Jumped the equal 9-4 favourite following his game performance to salute in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) when holding off the likes of Ocean Park and Silent Achiever. Didn't appear to travel sweetly in the run and looked gone before sticking on strongly over the final 200m to finish one-and-a-half lengths of the winner. Laser Hawk has struggled to get back to the races due to injury and the son of Artie Schiller has only had a handful of runs since. While failing first up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) he looked to be back close to his best when a fighting second in the Group 3 Newmarket (1400m) at Newcastle. Unfortunately he was struck down with injury again following his unplaced effort in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) last weekend. Likely to be out for up to six months with a tendon injury and it is yet to be seen whether or not we will ever see him reach his full potential.
Best run since the Derby: His best performance since the Derby was clearly his second placing behind Bello in the Group3 Newmarket when recording a Timeform figure of 119, just two pounds shy of his career best performance in the Rosehill Guineas.
4TH - Strike The Stars
Had every chance in the race 12 months ago but simply wasn’t good enough. Settled in a beautiful spot along the rail just in behind the speed, found the split at the right time in the straight but narrowly missed third spot. The performance was fairly typical of what he’s been doing since his lone win, which came in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) during the spring of 2011. He was spelled after finishing fourth in the South Australian Derby, went to Melbourne last spring grabbing just one minor placing from four runs, and has gone unplaced in three runs this autumn.
Best run since the Derby: That minor placing came in a Restricted 95 race at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Carnival. He lugged 60kg and was beaten 1.4L by Good Value, earning a Timeform figure of 110.
5TH - Rekindled Alliance
Came into the race on the back of some solid form, finishing second behind Polish Knight in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) the start before. The 2012 Derby was his ninth career start and he had only previously won on debut at the midweeks. The Paul Messara-trained colt always showed promise and was given a good run throughout the Derby by Corey Brown, sitting just off the pace and working to the line well for fifth. The son of Redoute’s Choice and a full brother to group winner Rekindled Interest went on to finish third in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) behind Fat Al before heading for a spell. During trackwork the following August Rekindled Alliance collapsed and died of a heart attack, devastating the Messara stable.
Best run since the Derby: Unfortunately the future stallion prospect only managed one more start when third in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) behind Fat Al. Rekindled Alliance returned a Timeform rating of 108 on that occasion, well below his figure of 116 in the Derby.
6TH - Silent Achiever
Started the equal favourite with Laser Hawk following her eye-catching performance to finish a narrow third in the Rosehill Guineas. Settling at the tail of the field, the daughter of O'Reilly was unable to reel in the eventual winners with James McDonald attempting to cut the corner and come up along the inside before only whacking away at the finish. Having already saluted in Group 1 company in New Zealand before coming over to Australia, Silent Achiever had proven very impressive in her what was only her maiden preparation. Given a short spell Silent Achiever was only seen three times in the Spring when proving too good in the Group 2 Crystal Mile before going down as the odds-on favourite in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes. While she may have failed to live up to expectations on that occasion she was clearly back to her best this Autumn having proven game in defeat in the Group 1 BMW behind Fiveandahalfstar.
Best run since the Derby: Her best performance since the Derby was clearly her run in the Group 1 BMW last weekend when going down narrowly to talented three-year-old Fiveandahalfstar. That run returned a Timeform figure of 117, her highest figure ever achieved on Australian soil.
7TH - Satirical Boy
The second of the Gai Waterhouse runners who was ridden positively from the outset, making a midrace move into second spot after a sluggish tempo in the race early. Was never going to beat home stablemate Laser Hawk, who finished third, but he stuck on reasonably well for seventh spot finishing about four lengths back. He was subsequently sold to Hong Kong interests and has since been trained there by Tony Millard.
Best run since the Derby: He hasn’t managed to kick on in Hong Kong unfortunately and is still chasing his first win since relocating to the northern hemisphere. The closest he’s come to winning in eight races since leaving Australia was on Sunday, when he ran fourth in a Restricted 80-60 handicap, beaten five lengths.
8TH - On Every Level
Scott Aspery-trained runner who was unfancied for the Derby, stepping out a 100-1 chance in the race. His form prior left a lot to be desired, finishing seventh in the Tulloch Stakes leading in after not beating a runner home in a midweek race at Canterbury. On Every Level was always back in the field throughout however ran on well pretty well to finish eighth, beaten 4.5L. The race was probably a bit above him.
Best run since the Derby: Has not been seen since running eighth in the Derby where he returned a Timeform figure of 113.
9TH - Sangster
Proved unable to complete the Victoria Derby-ATC Derby double after attempting to lead all the way in the staying feature. He jumped as a 30-1 shot and many will argue he ran accordingly as his form in the lead up to the race had proven quite poor with his only highlight being a third placing in the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m). Taken back home and given eight months off following that poor campaign the son of Savabeel returned to his best with three wins on the trot in New Zealand, two of which came in Group 1 company. After being ridden upside down when finishing seventh in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m), Sangster bounced back to form the following start to run third in the BMW last weekend.
Best run since the Derby: Proved his performance to score in the Victoria Derby was no fluke when proving far too good for his rivals in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200). He led all the way to comfortably score by 2.5L, and recorded a new peak Timeform figure of 123, four pounds higher than his previous career best.
10TH - Hoylonny
Didn’t quite stay the trip in the Derby, although in fairness he covered a fair bit of ground. Settled midfield, sat three wide coming up the side then rounded the bend six wide when asked for a run. The race winner Ethiopia cruised past him 250m from home, and he was probably the second horse beaten. Despite finishing 5.5L away and only beating a couple home, Hoylonny has been one of the success stories out of the race. He won three races in a row at Rosehill over the spring against benchmark opposition, and hasn’t been far away in four runs back from a break this autumn, finishing second to Lights Of Heaven at Group 3 level on Saturday in the Neville Selwood Stakes (2000m).
Best run since the Derby: That Neville Selwood run netted a Timeform figure if 103 but it wasn’t his best since the Derby. Over the spring when he beat home Cantonese in a Benchmark 85 Handicap (2000m), running to a figure of 106. Cantonese went on to win three races after that defeat.
11TH - Darci Be Good
Showed plenty of ability as a staying two-year-old taking out the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) before completing a successful Spring as an early three-year-old, winning the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle and running a narrow second the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), behind Doctor Doom at Randwick. Unfortunately the Bede Murray-trained runner never came back in the Autumn and was sent out a 40-1 shot in the Derby after running fifth In the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes behind Polish Knight. From an inside barrier Darci Be Good, ridden by Luke Nolen spent most of the race on the rails around midfield but was unable to get near them in the straight, beaten 6L into 11th.
Best run since the Derby: Has raced nine times since the Derby, his best result coming when taking out the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). That run returned a Timeform Figure of 108, just a shade below his Derby run where he ran 110.
12TH - Sabrage
Started the race one of the rank outsiders and after making a mid-race move to settle up on the speed he was quickly beaten off in the straight when unable to stick on. Despite placing twice in Group 1 company he has often struggled with consistency having only placed in five of his 19 career starts. Failed to come up in his following preparation and looks to have made little improvement despite being recently.
Best run since the Derby: Followed up his poor performance in the Derby with a close third in the Group 1 South Australian Derby behind Zabeelionaire. He hasn’t come close to a performance like that since though.