Racing: Derby win would see plenty of exultation

Hidden Asset ridden by James McDonald. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Dreams really do come true in racing.

At least they do, qualifies Hidden Asset's never-say-die co-owner Rocky Patterson, if you stick around for the long haul.

Almost two decades after the former radio personality formed the now 14-strong Twelve Cheers syndicate, their legendary off-course celebrations are in danger of being upstaged by their antics in the birdcage bar.

Hidden Asset's win in the group two $100,000 Classic Hits Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, was the quarter-share owners' first black-type success, at their first attempt.

More importantly, it guaranteed the ecstatic camp - which includes Herald racing writer Mike Dillon - their first runner in the $2.2 million New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 5.

The first three at the weekend - Hidden Asset, roughie Hot Pursuit and Saturday's favourite Yourin - are now exempt from the Derby ballot.

That's a result to toast well into the wee small hours when you have just turned down $600,000 for a horse fresh out of maidens a few days earlier.

Twelve Cheers' co-owners, Gerard Peterson, Barry Broomhead and Parsons Bloodstock - they have a quarter-share each - are old hands at sleeping well after snubbing those types of offers.

But before Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie plucked out the High Chaparral gelding for $50,000 from a Karaka yearling sale, Twelve Cheers was more familiar with Auckland's CBD restaurant-strip than the Ellerslie victory dais.

The syndicate's best performer before Hidden Asset was the modest three-race winner Don't Look At Me, trained by Shaune's father and Twelve Cheers' recruit Frank Ritchie.

"The first one we had 18 years ago [by Sackford] we had to give away, it couldn't run an inch, but I'm pretty sure we've had a winner every year since," said Patterson.

"None were as good as this one though - it just shows that dreams do come true if you wait long enough."

Twelve Cheers had to be patient with Hidden Asset, too.

Out of a Zabeel half-sister (Fragile Asset) to his dad's former champ Bonecrusher, Shaune Ritchie, who prepared Military Move to win last year's Derby, knew from the get-go he wasn't a 2-year-old type.

But he could tell by the walk and the shoulder, he might just have a horse good enough to take on the best staying 3-year-olds if handled right.

"He's very light-framed and is going to be a better 4-year-old, but this race always looked the easiest way to force our way into the Derby," said Ritchie.

"He's one of those horses that you wouldn't want to back up too often - he lacks that touch of strength - but at least now we can back off and pick our own path to the Derby."

First up, that's likely to begin with a freshener on the water walker, before Hidden Asset's reappearance in the Waikato Guineas (2000m) on February 5.

Ritchie said he will probably need that run before a final Derby tune-up in the rescheduled Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie on February 19.

The trainer isn't convinced yet he has another Military Move on his hands, but rider James McDonald was sold on Hidden Asset's Derby hopes after his maiden success at Ellerslie over 1600m on December 12.

He relaxed brilliantly that day before exploding away in the straight for an untested win. The difference on Saturday over an extra 500m was that this time McDonald had to call on strength reserves the horse didn't quite have.

McDonald said it was the gelding's class alone that got him there in the end.

When McDonald gave him his taste of the whip he cannoned into Hot Pursuit on his right, and when he swapped hands the horse veered to the outside fence.

Under the circumstances, the two neck margins among the first three home flattered the rivals.

TAB bookies agreed, slashing Hidden Asset's early future odds quote to just $8. He's Remarkable, who ran home nicely for fifth in the R90 1400m on Saturday, is the $4 favourite.