KEMBLA Grange trainer Brett Lazzarini says his South Australian Derby hope Steel Blaze is “over the odds” at $71.
Lazzarini is seeking a Group 1 breakthrough in the $1m Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday, and is confident his three-year-old will run well.
Steel Blaze turned in an excellent trial when sixth (beaten only one and a quarter lengths) to Derby rival Bold Soul in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at that track last Saturday.
“It was a terrific run,” Lazzarini said from Adelaide on Tuesday evening. “He wrong-footed himself on the home turn at his first run that way of going, and cost himself more than a length.
“His jockey Dom Tourneur got off him and said to be sure to back him up in the Derby.
“The 2500m will suit Steel Blaze down to the ground.
“His dam Aliyana Tilde (coincidentally prepared by fellow Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker) was narrowly beaten by Streama in the 2012 Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick and the following year was placed in the 3200m Sydney Cup there.”
A son of Real Steel, Lazzarini purchased Steel Blaze for $30,000 as an unraced two-year-old at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race sale in Sydney.
Earlier in the year he had fetched $50,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale.
“Steel Blaze jumped a shadow in the breeze-up before the Ready2Race sale, and that’s why his time wasn’t flash,” Lazzarini explained.
“Blake Ryan (Hawkesbury trainer) broke him in, and told me he thought he would be a good horse.”
Steel Blaze won a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m at Canterbury on February 23 before tackling Listed and Group company at his next three starts, including a ninth to dual Derby winner Riff Rocket in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 23.
Newcastle jockey Darryl McLellan returns to Adelaide to continue an association with Scone three-year-old Warialda Warrior ($51) in the Derby.
Warialda Warrior also ran in the Chairman’s last Saturday and ran eighth, beaten just under two lengths.
McLellan finished a close second on Warialda Warrior’s trainer John Ramsey’s Dolly Jayne ($7.50) in the closer, the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m), at Quirindi on Tuesday afternoon.
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Trainer Ciaron Maher has the first three favorites in early betting on Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).
Nugget ($4.50) heads the market ahead of stablemates Berkshire Shadow ($6) and Detonator Jack ($7).
John O’Shea’s Schwarz ($4.50) is favorite for the $250,000 Group 3 Blacktown Workers Club Group Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m), Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s Provincial-Midway Final placegetter Shadows Of Love ($6) heads betting for the $250,000 Group 3 Pioneer Services Hawkesbury Crown (1300m), and Melbourne mare Wee Nessy ($4.50) is favorite for the $200,000 Listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m).
Story John Curtis, April 30, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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