Racing: Favourite offers plenty to chew on at breakfast

"I think I'll start him in the Railway," said Colin Jillings to fellow Takanini trainer Frank Ritchie after raging Derby favourite Cheval De Troy galloped brilliantly at Ellerslie yesterday.

There were some remarkable training performances as some of New Zealand's finest thoroughbred talent prepared for the Auckland Racing Club's Cup carnival at the inaugural Breakfast with the Stars, but none that approached Cheval de Troy's.

The sprinters in the $200,000 Waiwera Infinity Railway have nothing to fear - Cheval De Troy is going nowhere but the $500,000 Mercedes Derby on Boxing Day, but the display of raw power and speed the colt showed in his solo gallop matched most of the short-course horses.

With raceday rider Opie Bosson in the saddle, Cheval De Troy went off from the 1600m, ran the 1400m in 1.26, the 1200 in 1.12 and the final 800 in a blistering 44.10.

It was a stunning gallop. The ground was 2.6 and slightly dead and the running rail was left out 13m after the Bonecrusher Stakes day, making the distances slightly longer when timing from the traditional markers on the outside rail.

"They don't work better than that," beamed Jillings.

The day had not started that well when Cheval De Troy pulled the shoe off his off-side hind foot on the float to Ellerslie from his Takanini base.

There was no blacksmith on course and tense moments resulted before a decision was made to gallop Cheval De Troy without a shoe.

The Jillings and Yuill stable is not afraid to work their feature horses hard before a major race and Bosson was instructed to ensure the colt had a searching hit-out.

Bosson urged Cheval De Troy over the final stages.

Jillings explained his tactics - Cheval De Troy eats his way into a tough training schedule.

"He was here to work. He's the biggest eater I've ever had in my stable - and that includes all the jumpers.

"Even after a race some horses will leave a bit of feed ... not him, he licks everything clean."

It was a pale and wasted Bosson who jumped off Cheval De Troy.

"I've got some sort of virus. I vomited all night and only had 1 1/2-hours' sleep."

But the early drive from Matamata to be at Ellerslie before 7am was worth it.

"That was a terrific gallop," said Bosson.

Railway runners Sedecrem, Gwen's Rules and Clean Sweep all galloped stylishly as did Lashed, All's Well, Filante Etoile, Straight Eight and unraced maiden Schmozzle.

Sedecrem, with Bosson aboard, galloped with Gwen's Rules.

They ran 1000m in 1.0.29, going just steadily to start and sprinting from the 600 in a fast 45.74.

Gwen's Rules (Lee Rutherford) had the outside running, but that was balanced by the fact that Sedecrem carried the heavier weight.

Sedecrem, who has had shocking raceday luck for so long, returned as if he had not had a gallop.

Gwen's Rules had a bit of a blow, which pleased co-trainer Frank Ritchie.

The classy mare was an unlucky close second in Egyptian Raine's Railway and goes her best races when fresh.

Lamond, back from being trained in Australia, worked only comfortably, but looked in great shape to tackle the Railway when galloping with unraced maiden Schmozzle.

They went quietly at the start of their 1000m in 1.6.01, quickening from the 800m in 47.2, without being really asked.

Lamond has not raced since mid-winter.

At his second-last start he won a 1200m group three sprint at Eagle Farm in 1.9.6.

"He was meant to race at the Melbourne Cup carnival, but when the rain arrived in Melbourne he was sent over here for the Railway," said trainer Richard Otto.

Lamond will not run in the lead-up at Newmarket on Sunday.

"He goes his best races fresh," said Otto.

Schmozzle, a 3-year-old filly by Kaapstad, dropped off Lamond by one length or so, but you would expect that from a maiden galloping with a group one horse.

She will make her debut on December 28 on the second day of the Ellerslie carnival.

"She's been in and out of work because she kept going shinsore," said Otto. Michael Walker was impressed with Schmozzle.

Filante Etoile did well to clock 1.0.3 for a solo 1000m and looks likely to feature over the carnival.

An Auckland Cup late entry of $787 was recently paid for Straight Eight.

And that did not look like wasted money when the mare went to the finish clear of stablemate, Derby runner D Major, after 1000m in 1.3.2, the 800 in 49.82.

St Verdi was withdrawn from the Derby after he fell away behind All's Well, who looked good in running 1400m, the last 1000 in 1.3.31, the 800 in 49.61.

All's Well was hitting out strongly, obviously appreciating the track conditions. Trainer Davina Waddell said she has almost certainly scrapped plans to run All's Well in the weight-for-age King's Plate on Sunday.

"He's still in the Auckland Cup and he's eligible for the PQ race, so I might take the easier option."