KEY POINTS:
Kevin Myers was one of the few trainers walking around Ellerslie racecourse yesterday afternoon sporting a large smile before the running of the $700,000 feature.
The Myers-trained C'est La Guerre was a proven wet track performer and had the conditions to assist his win claims in the Mercedes
Derby.
Jockey David Walker and C'est La Guerre confidently tracked Fritzy Boy forward three and four wide around the field over the closing 800m before pouncing on the opposition wide out on the hometurn.
When Walker asked his charge to sprint the response was mouth watering as the powerfully built gelding son of Shinko King effortlessly accelerated away from the opposition to win easing down at the finish by four lengths.
Prince Kaapstad ran the race of his life to hold second by a half-head from the gallant Fritzy Boy.
All honours were with the winner who was produced in perfect physical condition by Myers to claim New Zealand's premier 3-year-old race.
The wet track did trip up well-performed 3-year-olds like Mission Critical and Red Ruler, but C'est La Guerre carried a faultless hard track formline into the Group One event, and a firm surface may not have prevented the same result.
"I've always wanted to win the Derby but this was my first ride in the race," said Walker.
"He was travelling well and when Fritzy Boy went round them I was able to follow him into the race. I probably hit the front too soon but he went to the line really strongly."
For Myers, the victory was a fitting reward for patience and conditioning skills, producing the 10-1 shot in prime shape for a hard slog over the 2400m at Ellerslie.
Myers was a part-owner in Mettre En Jeu, placed second behind Redoute's Dancer, in last year's Derby.
A bout of colic meant C'est La Guerre had an unusual preparation for the Derby but the training skills of Myers overcame these difficulties.
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Opie Bosson will not have to worry about the weather conditions leading into the $700,000 Stella Artois Auckland Cup on Wednesday.
Bosson produced a confident ride aboard top weight Pentathon to score a determined victory in the Nathans Memorial at Ellerslie yesterday.
There was a lot to admire about the winning performance of the 6-year-old who lumped 60kg and worked forward three wide over the closing 800m to challenge the leaders on the hometurn.
Pentathon clearly relished the heavy track conditions powering his way down the outer of the track to win by a head over Balmuse with a further length back to Ntamack.
As an accurate form guide to the Auckland Cup, this race produced mixed results with the stop-start pace and the heavy track proving the undoing of several well-fancied runners.
Pentathon is a proven two-mile performer and will come into calculations if the Ellerslie track is heavy on Cup day.
"He drops a couple of kilos in the Auckland Cup on Wednesday and he goes in anything," said Bosson.
"He did it easy today with the big weight and if it's a similar track on Wednesday he'll be a threat. I also think he'll improve with this race."
The favourite Tinseltown battled gamely into fourth position after sitting handy to the leaders throughout the running.
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Educated punting money was right on the mark after the running of the $40,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Carnival Sale Bonus for 2-year-olds.
The win mover just before the 1200m event was Sanjura, dropping heavily on the New Zealand TAB from $16 in $11, and the plunge was spot on as the son of Sandtrap excelled in the heavy track conditions downing the favourite Fully Fledged.
Sanjura was given a charmed run by jockey Lisa Cropp, sitting off the speed and lengthening stride powerfully on a heavy track, gunning down Fully Fledged to win by three-quarters of a length.
A further three lengths away third was Al Qurhah.
Sanjura has shown plenty of ability in four previous starts for Te Awamutu trainers Richard and Chris Otto.
The favourite Fully Fledged was on his best behaviour after indifferent performances in his last two starts. He cruised up to the leaders quickly with 200m remaining but had no answer to the determined sprint from Sanjura.