KEY POINTS:
Fergiemack has survived a night of carnage to give New Zealand a chance at continuing its great Victoria Derby record.
The South Auckland pacer will be the sole Kiwi in next Saturday's classic at Moonee Valley after winning his heat at Shepparton on Saturday night.
And while he
got home only by a head from the impressive Singasongasixpence, trainer-driver Tony Herlihy was simply happy to make it through to the A$150,000 ($170,250) final after some of the best 3-year-olds on display missed out.
Not only did the three heats see Aussie champion Lombo Pocket Watch suffer his first real defeat in 21 starts when he finished third, but big names Days Of Courage, Lively Exit and Bold And Regal missed making the final all together.
That has left the Derby picture far more clouded than many would have expected and much will depend on tomorrow's barrier draw.
"That will be crucial, what we draw and getting a bit of luck, which you always need in a big race," said Herlihy.
The horseman was full of praise for Singasongasixpence, who sat three wide for the last lap before running Fergiemack to a head.
"He is a very smart horse but I think Fergie will be better for that outing because he had a good blow after the race.
"And he actually started to pull up a bit at the end so I think we are in the Derby with a good chance."
At least they are in, which is more than can be said for fellow Kiwi pacer Days Of Courage.
He was allowed to settle at the back of the first heat and never really got into the race, having no chance when the winner Lombo Mandingo paced the last 800m in front in 56.3 seconds.
The big surprise was the defeat of Lombo Pocket Watch, touted by some as the best young pacer produced in Australia.
He started a $1.30 even from the outside of the second line but looked to be in trouble a long way from home as eventual winner Twelves Paces was cruising in front.
Lombo Pocket Watch didn't help his chances by ducking out at the 400m mark but he would have struggled to win anyway. He showed courage to fight on for third but his aura of invincibility was severely dented.
The other New Zealand representative on the night, Mighty Cullen, was a slightly luckless fourth in the A$40,000 Shepparton Cup.
He got trapped in midfield but made ground as winner Sting Lika Bee paced the final 400m in 27.2 seconds.
"He went well without a lot of luck so is worth following next week," said catch driver Herlihy.
* Fergiemack wasn't the only northern pacer to win on the road. Monkey King took the Pelorous Classic at Blenheim yesterday.
The Steven Redi-trained 4-year-old made the most of a cool drive from Todd Mitchell to outstay Tuherbs in the $50,000 feature.
Further north, Tuffery landed some huge fixed-odds bets when he captured the Thames Grass Cup at Parawai yesterday.