Racing: Derby hopeful pleases trainer

Jimmy Choux enhanced his NZ Derby prospects with a strong win on Saturday. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Hastings trainer John Bary has already fielded plenty of opinion that Jimmy Choux might struggle when he gets beyond 1600m.

And he will get more as he points his headlining 3-year-old to the 2400m of the $2.2 million Telecom Derby on March 5.

History is on Bary's side.

Jimmy Choux showed again on Saturday, when winning the $70,000 Wellington Stakes, that his natural distance is probably 1600m.

That alone won't necessarily stop him successfully getting the 2400m at Ellerslie.

Classy 3-year-olds who end up racing at distances well short of 2400m as older horses, can often manage that distance against their own age group.

One of the examples is filly Snap, who looked just a speedster when she won the 1200m Gold Trail Stakes in the spring of her 3-year-old year and was then beaten when stepped up slightly in distance next start.

Snap ended up winning the 2400m Oaks at Trentham late that season then the following year reverted to sprints to win the group one 1400m at Te Rapa in February against the older horses.

Jimmy Choux has perfect racing manners to settle on any speed and it would be a big call at this point to say he won't manage the Derby distance judged on breeding alone.

His sire, Thorn Park, didn't win beyond 1500m and his dam, Cierzo, is by Centaine from a mare by Wild Rampage from a mare by Imposing.

Hardly classic staying blood, but to the best of our knowledge no one has told Jimmy Choux about this.

He relaxes, then pounces and is relentless to the finish.

His class alone will allow him to beat most of the Derby hopefuls.

Bary left the horse a little underdone going into this race because he said he didn't want to risk jarring the 3-year-old's legs on the hard summer tracks, so it makes sense that Jimmy Choux will continue to go forward.

If rider Jonathan Riddell has doubts about the 2400m he hasn't, or won't, express them.

What he said on Saturday was that everything panned out beautifully for the pair.

"He's a good chaser and when Jetset Lad went for home and got clear at the top of the straight I was very happy because we just had to keep them in our sights and grab them as late as possible."

Jimmy Choux put 1 lengths on second-placed Jetset Lad and although the runner-up is very talented, the margin could have been slightly bigger.

Jimmy Choux joined He's Remarkable as joint Derby favourite at $4 with the victory.

The ability to get the Derby trip will be better explained when Jimmy Choux tackles the 2000m of the $70,000 Waikato Guineas on Saturday week.

That's the race in which He's Remarkable will also have his first run past 1600m.

He's Remarkable looked to shorten his stride in the tricky conditions when let down by Matt Cameron in the home straight on Saturday.