Duckworth Lewis outstays rivals

Alysha Collett returns to scale aboard Duckworth Lewis. Photo / Greg Bowker

Logic tells owner-breeder Greg Jones that Duckworth Lewis shouldn't be a long-range New Zealand Derby hope.

The upset winner of the group three Te Hana Sparkling Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie yesterday has just too much sprinting blood in his pedigree.

But minutes after the Leo Molloy-trained Postponed gelding had humbled proven group-race warrior Red Ruler, Jones dared to dream that he might be back in March to chase the ultimate 3-year-old prize.

"He's from a sprinting family but I would have thought that winning a 2000m race in the spring would be indicative that he's a chance [in the Derby]," said Jones, who races Duckworth Lewis in partnership with long-time university buddy Andrew Green.

Jones and Green have been racing horses together since 1980, and highlights include winning the 1989 Australian Grand National Steeplechase with Bar The Shouting.

Jones has tasted group one success before, with 1994 Railway winner Ensign Ewart and in the 1995 Bayer Classic with Prussian Blue.

"But I'll leave that [Derby] decision up to the trainer," said Green. "Leo's nurtured him through from his 2-year-old career, plotting everything with precision.

"He's done unbelievably well for a trainer just starting out - we're really impressed with him."

Byerly Park-based Molloy, however, was keeping his feet firmly planted yesterday, despite celebrating his biggest career win, along with apprentice jockey Alysha Collett.

"I just don't think he's going to get further than a mile and a quarter [2000m]," said Molloy.

"That was his race to win today - it wasn't the greatest weight-for-age field."

To prove his point, Molloy plans to revert Duckworth Lewis back to 1600m for his next start, in weight-for-age company again in the Tauranga Stakes on November 12.

He's hoping to use that as a guide to his chances of a follow-up in the group one Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on December 3.

"I've always thought that he's not quite up to the best company, that's why I've been cherry-picking his races," said Molloy.

"If horses like Antonio Lombardo go to Tauranga he won't go."

Duckworth Lewis went into yesterday's weight-for-age test with just one win to his name from 11 starts.

But Molloy said the formline wasn't a true indication of the horse's enormous ticker.

In the group one Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie last March, the gelding finished a brave seventh to glamour filly Anabandana after having a horror trip in transit from his outside alley.

Collett doesn't need any convincing of Duckworth Lewis's courage after landing her first group-race scalp in just three attempts.

With 300m to run she knew it was just a case of seeing daylight on the fence.

"That was about as good a ride as I've seen," said Molloy of Collett's judgment. "I was surprised to hear that's her first group race win - it certainly won't be her last."

Collett's older brother Jason made it a memorable family double when scoring on November Rain, trained by father Richard Collett, in the other feature, the Carbine Club Trophy.

Back to a competitive handicap, Richard Collett was confident of an overdue return to form for last year's New Zealand Oaks runner-up.

She was tripped up by the wet track when she failed last time out in the Matamata Cup.

"She's never really hard and conditioned until the weather gets warmer - she never blooms until then," said Collett.

Collett's dilemma now is whether to back-up in the Counties Cup (2100m) on November 19, or try to defend her crown in the group two Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa in December.