The art of breeding stayers is not one practiced by many Australian breeders, but Trevor Delroy has achieved amazing success in that area over the years and has unearthed another promising three year-old in Cetshwayo, who scored a tenacious win in the $60,000 VRC Derby Trial at Flemington on Wednesday.
A homebred for Delroy’s Wyadup Valley Farm, the Danny O’Brien trained Cetshwayo was having just his second start in the 1800m contest for budding stayers following a debut eighth at Geelong on September 6.
The handsome bay son of Dundeel hit the line hard in a close finish to score a head win.
“He went well at Geelong with no luck although didn’t know how to close off the race, but has been in work with us for four or five months and is a nicely bred stayer,” said Danny O’Brien.
“Trevor Delroy has bred some of the best staying horses in Australia and we’re very happy to be getting some of his young horses.
“I would love to think this horse will hold together and be here on Derby Day.”
Derby and Oaks success is not unfamiliar for Trevor Delroy, who has won some of Australia’s best staying races with horses such as Ethiopia, Gondokoro and Cedarberg as well as having bred and sold another Derby winner in Zabeelionaire.
Cetshwayo is the second winner from unraced Haraka, another homebred for Wyadup Valley Farm by Foreplay from imported Rainbow Quest mare Drawbridge (IRE).
Drawbridge left seven winners from seven foals to race, but none were stakes horses although she comes from a big international Black Type family being a half-sister to Group I winner Fastness from French stakes-winning stayer City Fortress.
Further back the family features many Group I winning stayers including Sought Out, North Light, Gamut, Tannery and Golan.
Cetshwayo looks a promising horse for former Champion 3YO Dundeel, who also had another smart winner at Eagle Farm with Pure Deal scoring his third successive win.
The champion son of High Chaparral (IRE) stands at Arrowfield at a fee of $66,000 this spring.
