Racing: Guineas rehearsal for Derby

Danielle Johnson and Icepin lead the field home in the Avondale Guineas yesterday. Photo / NZPA

Jason Bridgman is looking forward to a busy March with confidence in the quality of 3-year-olds in his care.

Bridgman, the head New Zealand trainer of Te Akau Thoroughbreds, took centre stage yesterday at Ellerslie with the tough Icepin.

The son of Pins over powered and outstayed a highly regarded field in the $85,000 Avondale Guineas.

Icepin was having his first start beyond 1600m in the Group Two feature and did a stack of early work racing three wide before sitting outside the leader for the closing 1400m.

He was a sitting duck in the home stretch but none could catch him as he scored by a length over On The Level. A further 1 lengths back third was Sierra Nevada.

Yesterday's event was 2100m and the Derby is 2400m.

Icepin's on-the-pace style will see him start among the favoured runners for the $2.2 million feature.

If Icepin secures a handy draw in the Group One feature he will take a power of beating as he can race handy and quicken off a solid tempo.

Bridgman could not hide his delight at the win especially following last week's outstanding victory by stable star King's Rose at Te Rapa.

"I've trained this horse over the last two months to settle in his races and cope with racing over a middle distance and everything fell into place nicely today," said Bridgman.

"That's why he may have appeared to lack a bit of speed at the end of his last couple of races which have been over 1600m. I had a gut feeling he would perform well today and we'll keep him ticking over at home until the Derby."