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Derby field taking shape; Prince shakes maiden tag; Viadana retired; Bookies favour Soriano; TVN to shut shop.

Derby field taking shape

Gr.1 2000 Guineas runner-up Rockfast is among five three year-olds to drop out of New Zealand Derby contention since Saturday.

Rockfast is joined by Stratocaster, Palace Rock, Kolaman and Kaharau as defectors from the Gr.1 $750,000 TV3 New Zealand Derby (2400m) to be run at Ellerslie on Saturday week. That leaves 25 in Derby contention, though Waikato and Avondale Guineas placegetter Prima could be a late entry next week.

Platinum Witness could yet miss the Derby in favour of next month's Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.

As it stands Dee I Cee is assured of a start at 17th on the order of entry, while last-start Ellerslie runner-up Gifted Lad - currently 18th on the entry order - would need at least one defection should Prima be a late entry.

Rory Hutchings will partner Saturday's New Plymouth winner Chenille in the Derby, while Derek Nolan has been engaged for Nymph Monte.

Prince shakes maiden tag

The Brent Gillovic-trained Wealth Prince broke maiden ranks in emphatic style at Avondale on Wednesday, dominating the Arrow Security & Protection 1200 under a positive ride from Opie Bosson.

The recently gelded three year-old son of Sufficient has finished in the money on five occasions against vastly superior opposition and relished the drop in class.

"I wanted to give him an easy kill and build a bit of confidence," Gillovic said.

"Everyone who has ridden him has told me he feels like a Group horse, but he's kept finding a way to get beaten. Hopefully gelding him has worked the oracle.

"We'll find a race for him during Auckland Cup Week and looking further afield he might be the sort of horse to take to Queensland for a race like the Gold Coast Guineas."

Wealth Prince is a half brother to Gillovic's former smart galloper Wealth Princess, who was twice Group One placed.

Viadana retired

Glamour mare Viadana has been retired.

Prepared by Matamata's Lance Noble, Viadana won three times at Group One level including the 2013 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie, the 2014 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the 2014 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha.

Viadana had battled hoof soreness since a Melbourne campaign last spring and Noble finally called time on her career on Wednesday.

Bred by Little Avondale Stud and raced by the Easdon No.4 Syndicate, Viadana won 11 of her 45 starts and earned $711,000, many times her yearling purchase price of $25,000. She will now be sold as a broodmare proposition.

"She’s the best I’ve trained in my own right and to see the pleasure she brought and the friendships and experiences around her, it’s been a fantastic ride,” Noble told The Informant

Bookies favour Soriano

Soriano is poised to win her third Group One race in the space of four starts, according to TAB bookmakers.

The bookies on Wednesday released their market for Saturday's Gr.1 Haunui Farm Weight-For-Age Classic (1600m) at Otaki, opening the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained mare as a $3 favourite, despite the Savabeel mare facing a drop back in distance from her last-start win in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Last-start Gr.1 Thorndon Mile victor Puccini is the $3.20 second favourite, ahead of Natuzzi at $5.50, Weregoingtogetcha at $8, Ringo and Slice Of Class at $12, Fay Fay at $14 and Julinksy Prince and Iamishwara at $31.

TVN to shut shop

Australian Racing broadcaster TVN has less than a month left on air.

The TVN board announced the station will cease to broadcast on March 15 after the completion of a deal to work out the separation process between Victorian and New South Wales interests.

Relations between NSW and Victorian board factions soured late last year, which led to Racing NSW securing an agreement allowing Sky Racing to broadcast the state’s racing.

The Victorian clubs are yet to reach an agreement with Sky Racing while Racing Victoria looks at other avenues that will enable its product to reach as many customers as possible.