Racing: Liefting considers $20,000 fee

Rudy Liefting would back his filly Justa Tad against Cheval De Troy in training.

As a result, the Takanini trainer is seriously considering paying a $20,000 late entry fee for Justa Tad to run in the $500,000 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on December 26.

Liefting, who also owns Justa Tad, has to make a decision by midday on Friday when late entries close.

Cheval De Troy, trained by the partnership of Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill, became a hot favourite for the Derby when trouncing his opposition in the $60,000 Bonecrusher Stakes (2100m) for three-year-old at Ellerslie last Sunday.

Cheval De Troy was last night a $2.25 favourite on the New Zealand TAB's fixed-odds market to win the Derby and that dominance only reinforces Liefting's view that Justa Tad must also be a top chance.

The two horses are both trained at Takanini and Liefting said every time he makes a comparison between the pair he is left wondering that Justa Tad is every bit as good.

"I see that horse [Cheval De Troy] every morning," Liefting said.

"If you put them together on the training track I know, in all due respect, which one would eat up the other.

"She seems to work better but I know it's not raceday. Don't get me wrong, Cheval De Troy's a lovely, big horse. He's probably the proven stayer, more likely to get the trip (2400m) than our filly.

Justa Tad is clearly the best filly in New Zealand at this stage. She won the group one $275,000 One Thousand Guineas (1600m) for three-year-old fillies at Riccarton in November and last Saturday gained her second win at group three level when proving too classy in the Eulogy Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies at Awapuni.

Justa Tad was not among initial nominations for the Derby when they closed on September 7. At that stage she had raced twice for a win and second and the Derby is not a race many fillies run in.

"I know I had a damn good horse on my hands but at that time you think why take on both sexes?"

Justa Tad would not race again before the Derby if Liefting decides to make the $20,000 payment. The Istidaad filly has not raced beyond 1600m but Liefting said that does concern him as far as the 2400m of the Derby goes.

"Put is this way, I wouldn't have any queries about her preparation," he said.

"I wouldn't even change my training methods that much because she actually does a little bit of stayers' work.

"She's a natural athlete, she doesn't need a lot."

Liefting said he consulted regular rider Vinny Colgan about the Derby and the response was favourable.

Justa Tad is the favourite at $4 for the group one $300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) for three-year-old fillies at Trentham on January 22.

Liefting would not be drawn on whether Justa Tad would become a doubtful runner for the Oaks if she contested the Derby.

A TAB bookmaker said if Justa Tad was paid up for in the Derby it was likely she would listed as a $6 chance, behind Cheval De Troy ($2.55) and Mandela ($4.50).

The Dave O'Sullivan-trained Popsy (1993) is the only filly to have won the Derby in the last 17 years. Our Flight (1982) and Tidal Light (1986) also won.

- NZPA