Checkmate targets NZB Kiwi over Derby for Champions Day race

Checkmate is skipping the Derby, and aiming for the NZB Kiwi race at Ellerslie.

The new $3.5 million NZB Kiwi has beaten out of the tradition of the New Zealand Derby as the goal for multi-talented three-year-old Checkmate.

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have announced last Sunday’s impressive Ellerslie winner will fill their Wexford Stable’s slot in the new 1500m race to be the centrepiece of Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8.

That is the same day as the NZ Derby, and Checkmate is a horse who could win either, having already been top class up to 1500m but being by a two-time Derby winner in Mongolian Khan, suggesting longer trips will eventually be no issue.

O’Sullivan says after wavering between the two races the NZB Kiwi is now the confirmed target for Checkmate.

“Obviously he is a horse with the scope to be very competitive in either race but we think the NZB Kiwi suits him better at this stage,” says O’Sullivan.

“He is still quite an immature horse who is developing and because of that we don’t think a Derby preparation is ideal for him.

“Ideally to get to a Derby we would like them to have two runs over ground [2000m or further] and we don’t think that would be the best for him at this stage and to be honest we are not even sure he would handle that.

“But the NZB Kiwi is also such an exciting race for the whole industry so to have a horse as talented as him running in our slot has really got everybody here buzzing.”

Checkmate joining the NZB Kiwi line-up gives the stable two confirmed starters in the race, with Sought After the first horse signed up by owners Waikato Stud into their slot.

But O’Sullivan thinks they may have more reps by the March 8 mega day, the richest-ever race meeting held in New Zealand racing.

“I would be very surprised if Sethito didn’t get a slot and she looks the perfect type of filly for the race if her owners want to go that way,” he offers.

“And we also have Prosegur who I think might be on a few people’s lists of possible contenders.”

Checkmate and Sought After join Domain Ace (CJC slot) and Australian galloper Evaporate (Entain NZ, TAB) as confirmed NZB Kiwi slot signings.

Meanwhile, the O’Sullivan/Scott stable, like many in the north, will have a quieter than usual start to the weekend with no northern thoroughbred meetings on Friday or Saturday, allowing northern jockeys to ride at Wellington Cup day tomorrow.

But they have a strong hand at Pukekohe on Sunday, headlined by Grande Gallo (R2, No 1).

The four-year-old mare was an impressive fresh-up winner at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and while she climbs in the weights on Sunday apprentice Ngakau Hailey claims 2kg.

“She won well last time and she looks our best of the day,” says O’Sullivan.

Ellerslie Practice for Romeo

The Victorian raider on next Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million two-year-old will get a valuable look around Ellerslie today.

Hello Romeo, a race-winning son of Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain, is already in New Zealand and will take advantage of Ellerslie bosses opening the course proper for gallops today for horses entered for next week’s massive meeting.

Hello Romeo, trained by the Hayes brothers, will gallop with race rival Vega For Luck.

Another confirmed foe the Karaka Million, two-year-old entry Landlock, will also gallop at Ellerslie this morning.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.