Horse racing: Derby double closer to reality for Ellerslie hero Road To Paris

Road To Paris came from near last to win the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 7. Photo / Kenton Wright

Road To Paris is in the enviable position that even the potentially bad news is still kind of good, as he prepares to chase a Derby double at Randwick on Saturday.

The New Zealand Derby winner is the main Kiwi-trained rep on the opening day of The Championships as he contests the $2 million Australian Derby, looking to give New Zealand trainers back-to-back Group 1-winning weekends in Sydney, after Belle Cheval’s Vinery triumph last Saturday.

Road To Paris finds himself in the right Derby to attempt the double, as the locals don’t contain an in-form standout, although Observer is the Victoria Derby winner over 2500m and gets James McDonald aboard, so he ticks a lot of boxes.

But so too does Road To Paris, co-trainer Roger James, who is looking to add Saturday’s classic to his seven New Zealand Derbys and a Queensland Derby training success, said.

“We have a horse who is really well and is a proven stayer so we know he will get the 2400m,” James told the Herald.

While some trainers might have been annoyed by drawing barrier 10 of 13 in the Derby, Road To Paris came from barrier 13 and well back to win the Derby at Ellerslie four weeks ago and it is probably his most natural racing style.

James has no jockey concerns, as Road To Paris gets Hong Kong superstar Zac Purton, while even the potential for rain before Saturday doesn’t worry the Cambridge trainer.

“The forecast is actually improving and it is a beautiful day here today so I think the track will be okay,” he said.

“But if it did get wet, I cast my mind all the way back to August when he trialled on a very heavy inside track at Te Rapa and he flew that day.

“So if the rain did come, I think we’d be all right.”

While Road To Paris still has concerns over his racing manners, the gelding has enough going for him to suggest his $10 price is overs and likely to shrink, as the Derby is a World Pool race so Purton’s engagement will attract attention from Hong Kong punters.

Road To Paris isn’t the only big-name Kiwi with a Group 1 winning chance at Saturday’s stunning meeting which also hosts the A$3m T.J. Smith, featuring New Zealand-owned sprint stars (excuse the pun) Joliestar and Jimmysstar against Giga Kick and exceptional 3-year-old Tentyris.

The A$4m Doncaster has a strong New Zealand flavour through Gringotts, Evaporate, Linebacker and the Kiwi-owned Autumn Boy up against exciting filly Sheza Alibi, who will carry the 49kg featherweight.

While Randwick will be the focus of thoroughbred attention on Saturday, there are some deep and even fields at Ellerslie, with James and training partner Robert Wellwood mulling over how many to run in the strong maiden mile.

“We have four accepted but two of them have very wide draws and another didn’t thrill us with her work this week so we could only end up with Solid Gold [Race 5, No 11] starting,” James said.

“She is drawn a touch wide too but has some class so we think she can still win.”

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.