Racing: Khan set for Derby favourite

Opie Bosson guides Mongolian Khan to victory yesterday. Photo / Trish Durell

Proven staying colt Mongolian Khan will be at the top of his distance game when he goes head to head with Volkstok'n'barrell in a fortnight's time.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor showed his quality with victory in the Group 2 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas yesterday and he will strip fitter for his return to Ellerslie for the Avondale Guineas on February 14.

"He hadn't raced for seven weeks and I thought he could have been a bit vulnerable," said Murray Baker, who prepares the 3-year-old with Andrew Forsman.

"This horse has quite a bit of upside and I thought he may have needed the run, but his class got him through.

"He's a beautiful colt and he's going to take a lot of improvement from this into the Avondale Guineas and then the Derby."

The Group 2 Great Northern Guineas and Karaka Mile winner Volkstok'n'barrell is the NZ Derby favourite at $2.50 with Mongolian Khan's quote cut in half to $5.

He was given an economical run near the pace by Opie Bosson and they proved too good in the straight for the front-runner Giant Turtle with the maiden longshot Prima a bold third.

"He always had the others covered and he's only going to improve. The Derby trip will be ideal for him."

The effort of the fourth placegetter McQueen was full of merit after the Jim Collett-trained gelding stumbled out of the barrier and all but dislodged rider Sam Collett.

They were forced wide to improve and did well to finish in front of Margin Trader and Kolonel Kev.

Mongolian Khan's stablemate Show The World confirmed he is on target to bid for a notable family double at Ellerslie.

The gifted 4-year-old's victory in the Allied Security Hamilton Cup sealed his place in the Auckland Cup on March 4.

He is a son of High Chaparral and the Zabeel mare Bazelle, who won the Ellerslie prize in 2005.

"He's only a 4-year-old and there's still improvement in him," Baker said. "This will make sure he's got enough points to get in the Auckland Cup and I think he'll run the two miles. He likes Ellerslie and he's got a lot of potential."

Show The World, who won the Championship Stakes at northern headquarters last season, sat off a good speed set up by Madonna Mia and he came with a sustained finish for his fifth career victory.

"I'll probably run him in the Avondale Cup next - that's the ideal lead in to Auckland," Baker said.

Show The World was ridden by Matt Cameron, who believes the gelding will be all the better for his Te Rapa outing.

"He was a bit above himself today," he said. "He's going to improve and the further he goes the better he'll be."

Show The World is now the $6 pre-post Auckland Cup favourite to give Baker and Forsman another staying feature following the success of Maygrove in the Wellington Cup.

Farm Boy continued his solid run of form with a stout finish from the back for second ahead of the stablemates Guess What and Breaking Dawn.

-NZ Racing Desk