Wet tracks and form lines from all over the place have made this year’s Group I Queensland Derby a complete lottery of a race, so we’re going to throw out the form guide and pick our Top 7 based purely on pedigree to run a strong 2400m.
Some of the horses below have not been well suited on the current relentless spate of wet tracks, but we’re looking at pedigree here and if they don’t deliver on Saturday in the wet, do keep an eye on them for the future.
Number 5/ Pinarello (NZ) (3g Tavistock x Zonza, by Zabeel) - One of multiple runners in the race by outstanding staying sire Tavistock and this one bred on the magic cross being from a daughter of Zabeel in Zonza that won up to 2000m.
He’s a half-brother to two sprinting stakes-winners, Vernazza and but they were fillies by More than Ready (USA) and Snitzel, so Pinarello is a very different kettle of fish.
Number 7 / Southern Stock (NZ) (3g Tavistock x Cape South, by Cape Cross (IRE) - Another by Tavistock and this one from a mare that won up to 2000m and her dam is by Zabeel and won up to 2200m. There is plenty of Black Type in the family to indicate class and if you go back a ways you find it’s the family of VRC Oaks winner Tristanagh.
Number 8/ Balmaurice (3g Maurice (Jpn) x Bal de Siecle, by Danehill Dancer – By the sire of dual Derby winner Hitotsu and his grand-dam by Arc winner Rainbow Quest was stakes-placed 2000m winner at Chantilly. Her dam is Benediction, who ended up at stud in New Zealand and produced Australian Horse of the Year and Melbourne Cup winner Might and Power.
Number 9/ Sea Treasures (NZ) (3g So You Think x Cagliari, by O’Reilly)- By the mighty So You Think and has a female family that mixes the best of Kiwi and European staying blood. His grand-dam Clerio was a Group III winner in Ireland up to 2000m and her grand-dam was Champion NZ Filly La Mer, who won the NZ Oaks in 1977.
Number 11/ Satirical Glory (3g So You Think x Satirical Lady, by Giant’s Causeway) – Full brother to Smart as you Think, who was placed in Group III SA Fillies Classic at 2500m. Grand-dam by Rainbow Quest and next two dams were staying stakes-winners in the UK. From a big Black Type family that has had a lot of success in Australia.
Number 14 / Global Ausbred (3g Maurice (Jpn) x Ponte Piccolo, by Volksraad (GB) – Another by Maurice and is a half-brother to HK Horse of the Year and Champion Miler Able Friend, but dam was a stakes-winner up to 2050m and there is good staying blood in this family going back with his grand-dam a full sister to long distance stayer Big Barron.
Number 18 / Villaden (3g Tavistock x Romantic Time, by Fastnet Rock) – Another by Tavistock and is a full brother to Australian and Victoria Derby place-getter Young Werther.
Kiwi bred emergencies Turn Me Over and Velvet Lady also have a bit on pedigree to suggest optimism if they gain a start.
