Racing: Cooksley believes he should have streeted them in Derby

By MIKE DILLON


Rider Grant Cooksley said Mount Street should have won yesterday's Derby by lengths.

"He was one of the biggest certainties beaten I've ridden," said Cooksley after Mount Street overcame shocking difficulties to go under by a long head to Cut The Cake.

Mount Street tore off part of his near-side front hoof when he clipped heels coming out of the starting gates, which must make an already gutbusting 2400m seem an awfully long way for a three-year-old.

Cooksley said it took Mount Street until halfway through in the race to get his proper stride back.

"He wouldn't hit out - it shortened his stride up," said the champion jockey.

Cooksley claimed Mount Street would still have won but for being held up behind runners approaching the home bend.

"That was his own fault - after the earlier incident he was worried about going near other horses."

To avoid having to go six and seven runners wide on the home bend, Cooksley angled Mount Street to the inside and he struck trouble again before having to wait for the eventual winner to clear a narrow gap to produce his own finishing sprint.

"I though we could still win inside the last 100m - it was a terrific effort. He is a good horse so he will keep."

Unfortunately for the punters who backed Mount Street into second favouritism they may not get a chance to get their money back - unless they bet in Singapore.

A half share in the exciting youngster was sold a few months ago to clients of leading Singapore trainer Malcolm Thwaites and his racing future here is likely to be very short.

Reese Jones said he had no excuse for the favourite Philamor fading to finish 11th after sitting outside the leader to the home bend.

He claimed being four wide on the bend out of the straight from his outside barrier had not cost him the race.

"He was doing nothing when he was out there and as soon as we headed into the back straight I let him slide up to the leaders quarters.

"Maybe he is not a real 2400m horse at this early stage of his career."

With that in mind Philamor will now be aimed at the weight-for-age Zabeel Classic over 2000m on the last day of the meeting, a rare move for horses who have raced in the Derby.

The surprise of the race was Masai's finish into third at long odds, a place he had to survive an inquiry to keep.

Peter Johnson had no hard luck stories over fourth-placed Waitoki Dream.

"He had every chance - he just whacked away," said Johnson.

"But he wasn't disappointing. He'll still make a pretty good horse in time."

Terraine (5th) did well and Leith Innes was pleased with the run of sixth placed Firewheel.

"He felt really good just in behind the speed and he was going okay when I pulled him into the clear, but the race was perhaps a bit early in the season for him. He'll keep."

Hayden Tinsley said well-fancied Russian Pearl was a fraction too keen in the running to see out the testing 2400m.

"He was going okay through the first bit of the race, but when Maroofity went around to lead going out of the straight I gave my bloke a click up to keep his possie and just as I did it, Brillanti in front came back on us and we clipped his heels.

"He raced a bit keenly after that which really didn't help.

"He didn't have a lot of racing room for a bit in the home straight, but that is not what stopped him.

"He's had a fairly long campaign and he's a much better horse than he showed today."