KEY POINTS:
Unbeaten Pasta Post injected the possible into his mission impossible when he produced a stylish Derby gallop at the carnival galloping session at Ellerslie yesterday morning.
On Saturday the two-from-two Pasta Post will attempt something few before him have tried - winning the $700,000 Mercedes Derby without having
raced beyond 1600m.
Pasta Post made an impressive 1400m winning debut at Ellerslie earlier this month then was even more stylish storming home over 1600m at New Plymouth.
Xcellent won the 2400m Derby after two unbeaten performances, but the second of those was over 2000m at Ellerslie.
If Pasta Post wins New Zealand's premier classic on Saturday it will have been a phenomenal training performance by Graeme Sanders and training partner Debbie Sweeney.
The 3-year-old showed he has trained on well since New Plymouth when he just shaded Derby rival Keep The Message and Prized Lady after a 2200m gallop yesterday.
The trio ran the last 1000m in 61 seconds, the 800 in 47.5 and 600 in 35.3.
Keep The Message was ridden by Queensland jockey Stathi Katsidis, who flew into Auckland on Monday night to ride Keepem in the Derby for the Logan/Gibbs stable.
Katsidis has not previously ridden in New Zealand and was thankful for the opportunity to become acquainted with Ellerslie during three trackwork rides yesterday.
Afterwards he walked the track.
"I'm pleased I had these rides because it's a very undulating track, not the sort of track you'd want to go into a Derby blind on."
Katsidis will ride two from the Gibbs/Logan stable at Te Rapa today, Cent From Above in Race 7 and Rock It Man in Race 8.
Improving mare Zerello, with Leith Innes in the saddle, took time honours through the session when running 1000m in 58.3, the 600 in 34.91.
Three-year-old filly Magic Tryst did good work under Innes to run over the same ground in 58.31, the 600 in 34.3.
Trainer Craig Ritchie said Magic Tryst will run in the $40,000 1200m 3-year-old race on the final day of the carnival on Saturday week.
Meanwhile, the $3.20 Derby favourite Redoute's Dancer has been quietly getting through his work at Pukekohe. Quietly is definitely the operative word.
"He's been ready since before that Ellerslie win last Saturday week - I haven't had to do much with him at all," said caretaker trainer Maurice Campbell, filling in for Sydney trainer Tim Martin, who arrives in Auckland tomorrow.
Redoute's Dancer, like a lot of the Redoute's Choice horses, has a marvellous temperament.
"He's so laid back you can't kick him out of your way," said Campbell.
"I worked him this morning and he plodded around and ran 1200m in 1.18 and 800 in 50 - that's about all he needs to do.
"He's ready, we don't have to grind him."