Racing: Guineas heartbreak but Derby in sight

By MIKE DILLON

Brian York slid from Danamite's saddle after a heart-breaking defeat in Saturday's $A460,000 Rosehill Guineas and said to trainer Roger James: "We can still win the Derby."

The comment was made in the jaws of crushing defeat when Danamite went down by a half-head to fast-finishing Sale Of Century in a result everyone thought was Danamite's.

It was a stunning performance by Sale Of Century to come from the tail of the field while Danamite enjoyed the perfect trip behind the leader, but York loved Danamite's effort and fancies his Derby chances.

A $A1 million AJC Derby win would be the perfect consolation for James, who has just lost Danamite to Hong Kong interests, and just as important at the moment, he had been certain the Rosehill Guineas had been his.

"Everyone around me thought Danamite had won as well," said a stunned James yesterday.

"I thought the angle I was on was perfect and I've never made a mistake on a close finish with one of my horses before. That was a career first.

"The press congratulated me on the win and Brian York said he had been certain we'd won."

Rosehill course commentator Terry Bailey sought out James to apologise for calling Danamite the winner.

"Not often I get it wrong, that was a pretty ordinary call," said Bailey.

Fellow New Zealand trainer Paul O'Sullivan was congratulating James when the confirmed result came through.

"Paul said not to feel bad, he'd done the same thing at Rosehill.

"He said he was certain he'd won the Ansett Stakes one year and was in the winner's stall waiting for the horses to come back when Neville Begg said to him: "I don't think you've won that Paul."

"Neville knew the angle better and had been right. Neville won it himself."

What helped beat Danamite was racing a fraction more one-paced in the closing stages than the winner and he will be ideally suited by the 2400m of the Derby.

"I'm not conceding the Derby yet," said James yesterday.

"We can still win it. He'll harden again as a result of yesterday's race and I liked Brian's comments that he will relax perfectly and race well at any distance he's asked for.

"The other comment Brian made was relevant - that the other 3-year-olds are all over the place with their form while Danamite is an extremely consistent type.

"He's had two starts in Australia for two terrific seconds and take out his wet track form in the Derby and the 2000 Guineas in New Zealand and his form stacks up consistently."

Last year James made tentative approaches to open a satellite stable in Melbourne and says Danamite's sale has prompted him to think even more seriously.

Having a stable both sides of the Tasman, he says, may help to stem the flow of horses overseas from establishments such as his.

"At the moment there are no boxes available at Flemington, where I would like to set up so I'll wait until the right opportunity presents itself."

James had intended returning to New Zealand yesterday, but has decided to stay on and watch Giovana have her final serious gallop before Saturday's $A1 million Mercedes Classic at Rosehill.

He is delighted with the improvement in the mare since taking on the Ranvet Stakes field last weekend.

"Her work here yesterday morning is the best she has turned in on this trip to Australia.

"Her work in Melbourne had been adequate, but not up to the standard of how she trained before she won the Queensland Oaks last year.

"At that time her work was stunning, the best I've probably had from a stayer, and Saturday's effort suggests she is almost right back to that level."

In the Mercedes, Giovana will face Tie The Knot, who has been in devastating form, Sky Heights and fellow New Zealanders Showella, Kaapstad Way and Hill Of Grace.

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On the home turn at Tauranga on Saturday there was not a greater certainty all day than Bel Air in the $30,000 Owens Services Bay Of Plenty Cup.

He was travelling almost too well for a stayer at that late stage in the race.

Perhaps he was too fresh as a result of a slight breather after being beaten in the St Leger and was going to blow out in the closing stages of this race.

Not a chance.

He won untested by nearly two lengths and will win better races.

Lance O'Sullivan admitted he was a little concerned that Bel Air was right behind the leader on the bend.

"I'd ridden him back in the field in most of his other races and he'd finished off really well."

The improvement in Bel Air has been spectacular and next preparation he should be a real headliner.

Meantime he will take on the $40,000 HIH Insurance Classic at Ellerslie on Easter Monday before a spell.

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Karen Zimmerman will make a decision next Monday whether to press ahead with plans to run Cinder Bella in the $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap on Saturday week.

She is happy with the way the New Zealand mare has pulled up after failing to handle the hard track in Saturday's $A350,000 George Ryder Stakes.

The Rosehill track was the firmest it has been in two months and Cinder Bella beat only one runner home.

Zimmerman said she was less than pleased with the riding performance of Paddy Payne, one of the few who have bagged the talented Payne in a long time.

"I told him not to take her near the rail and he shot her up on the inside and she copped a really bad check.

"We'll wait here until Monday next week and make a decision on whether rain looks likely before we are required to pay up the $A13,500 Doncaster acceptance on the Tuesday.

"If it does not look like rain we'll come home without accepting."

Cent Home's ninth in the George Ryder was a lot better than it may have looked.

A slow start cost him dearly and he looks as though he's looking for more distance than the 1500m. His last 75m was eye-catching.

Fellow New Zealander Star Satire is looking for less distance.

She looked the winner when she hit the lead at the 350m in the George Ryder, but paddled the last 120m.

She could win another nice race up to 1400m.