Racing: Boyd delighted to pick up consolation

Graeme Boyd and his pride and joy, Ginga Dude, beat the Aussies in the David Jones Handicap on Saturday. Photo / Sarah Ivey

MELBOURNE - Waikato galloper Ginga Dude scored a consolation win in the David Jones Cup on Saturday after being balloted from the Caulfield Cup.

Trainer Graeme Boyd was hoping for a start in the feature race of the day but was happy with Saturday's spoils after the impressive looking 7-year-old romped home two lengths ahead of Purple and Zoomin.

"We came over to run in the Caulfield Cup but that wasn't to be, but we are very pleased with this win," Boyd said.

A winner of 12 of 34 starts, Ginga Dude made the trip across the Tasman after a fast finishing second to Wall Street in the weight-for-age Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 2.

He has been stabled at Bevan and Richard Laming's training complex at Cranbourne and has thrived in his new surroundings.

"We weren't sure how he would travel and handle his first trip away but he has settled in so well," Boyd said.

"It is going to be hard to leave the place. It is a magnificent training centre."

Michael Walker rode Ginga Dude but he is not a stranger to the horse, having ridden him to victory in the Avondale Cup (2200m) in December last year.

"He was very fired up today," Walker said on Saturday. "I was surprised he was up front."

Walker took a soft lead on Ginga Dude after he began so well and he nursed the gelding to the home turn before taking off on the rest of the field.

"He was fresh and I think he will be improved by the run," Walker said.

Boyd has ruled out the Melbourne Cup for Ginga Dude, preferring to aim him at the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

Mark Zahra said Purple, who was under pressure before the turn, had a "funny run".

"I was sort of gone a long way out but she picked up and finished off," Zahra said.

"I don't know how to explain it. In the straight, she was like a new horse."

Glen Boss said Zoomin ran well, while last-start Gold Nugget Stakes winner Dream Pedlar ran a great race to finish fourth.

"It was a nice even effort," jockey Dan Nikolic said. "He fought back well." Retrieve confirmed his favouritism for the Victoria Derby at Flemington on October 30 with a solid win in the group three Norman Robinson Stakes, the feature event for 3-year-olds.

Already proven in the ground with a win on a heavy track at Sandown three starts earlier, the Rahy colt started $2.10 favourite and, ridden by Mark Zahra, ploughed through the heavy going to beat Almindoro ($21) by a half-length with Digital Fortress ($11) a head away third.

"He gets through wet ground but he's much better on top of the ground. It was a good tough win," trainer Peter Snowden said.

* Retrieve has been up for quite a while, having had seven runs since early July.

After winning over 1500m at Sandown in August, he won the group three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill and was second in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

"From his last start, we had a month to put in before the Derby so I had him pretty well wound up for Randwick. It was in my mind that you can only get them so fit, so it was a little bit of marking time from there until today," Snowden said.

"He's coped with it well. He's a tough horse, he eats very well and he's won today, that's pleasing for me because I know I can get him fitter for two weeks' time."

Jockey Steven King was delighted with the run of Almindoro, a Redoute's Choice gelding prepared by Steve Richards. "We always thought he was a Derby horse and it looks like he'll run a strong mile-and-a-half." The Tony Vasil-trained Altius was disappointing, settling back and finishing eighth of the 12 runners.

"He's a better horse than what he's showing now," jockey Damien Oliver said.

Stewards reported that Cambridge colt Mackadoo, who ran last, pulled up lame in the near foreleg.

- AAP