Racing: Criterion can give Glenn some cheer

Criterion is $3.50 favourite for the AJC Derby today. Photo / Getty Images

No question A$2 million can offer a fair measure of distraction.

Sir Owen Glenn could do with that in light of this week's Warriorgate and Criterion can provide it in today's A$2 million AJC Derby in Sydney.

At $3.50 favourite bookmakers are not about to allow you to get rich on Criterion today, but when you watch again the runaway three-and-a-half-length Rosehill Guineas victory last start, that's no real surprise.

Criterion is the horse with the sense of timing around him for Sydney's premier classic.

The main opposition was always going to be New Zealand Derby winner Puccini, but an enormous question mark hangs over him because of the heavy track after a continuing week of rain.

"We are 99 per cent certain we will start him," 21-year-old co-trainer Jacob McKay told the Weekend Herald from Sydney last night.

"We're here, we've known for a while the track is going to be heavy, so we don't have a reason not to run. The owner's keen to run, so something would have to go wrong to keep him out of the race now."

Former South African trainer David Payne said he always felt Criterion would make it as a stayer for Glenn.

"I ran him in the Golden Slipper because he won a group two 2-year-old race, but I was always looking forward.

"I took him to Melbourne for the Derby in the spring, but he just got too far back. He was 15 lengths off them at the 800m and he got home hard. This whole campaign was aimed to target the Rosehill Guineas and Derby and we get here with a horse that looks and feels very good."

Payne has always believed Criterion needs a rider who understands him.

"Hughie [Bowman] knows how to ride him to allow him time to settle. There are a lot of horses that shouldn't be there and they are going to get in the way, but that's racing."

Despite the conditions, Puccini has retained his position as the $7 equal second favourite with Thunder Fantasy, who chased Criterion home in the Rosehill Guineas.

"Physically he's very well," says McKay. "He was very tired when he pulled up from that very hard race in the Rosehill Guineas, but his blood count came back well. He didn't tuck up at all and he's in great shape for this race."

McKay said his father and trainer partner Peter hoped the switch from Rosehill to Randwick could make a difference. "He wasn't that happy at Rosehill, but at home some horses can handle Te Rapa and not Ellerslie and vice versa and we're hoping this is the same with Randwick."

Craig Williams replaces Michael Walker on Puccini.