KEY POINTS:
Saturday's $55,000 Hugh Green Bonecrusher Stakes winner at Ellerslie, Rios, may have some high-profile on-course support if, as expected, he makes it through to the $700,000 Mercedes Derby at the same venue on March 1.
Rios was named after former world No 1-ranked tennis player, Marcello Rios.
The
classy colt's sire, Hussonet, was bred in the United States and became one of Chile's finest racehorses.
When Cambridge bloodstock agent Stu Hale bought Rios for himself and Hong Kong civil engineer Andy Chan, he asked his brother Gary to come up with a Chilean sportsman to name the horse after.
Gary Hale, a former topline tennis player, took just one breath before replying: "There's only one - Marcello Rios."
Stu Hale said on Saturday that through his brother's contacts in tennis he hopes to entice Marcello Rios to New Zealand to be at Ellerslie to see Rios attack the Derby.
"We'll fly him down and look after him in New Zealand."
Marcello Rios, who retired in 2004, became the first player to be ranked world No1 without winning a Grand Slam, something which led to a change in how the rankings were worked.
If you listen to Rios' rider David Walsh, the Chilean's trip may prove worthwhile if the owners can entice him here. He believes Rios is a potential Derby winner. The jockey has long been adamant Rios is absolute top class, even when twice beaten on the colt as a juvenile last season.
When the pair scored their first win at Hastings on Mudgway Stakes Day, Walsh said as impressive as the horse looked, he would keep getting better right through into next year.
"This horse will end up so good, he'll be scary," were the comments after Rios comfortably beat the Bonecrusher field on Saturday.
They are not words normally used by Walsh, one of New Zealand's most widely respected and experienced jockeys.
Apart from being a magnificent individual, Rios has an exemplary temperament, particularly for a spring colt. Absolutely nothing bothers him.
"He got tightened up a couple of times on the rails today. Did he care? No," said Walsh.
"When I asked him to relax, he relaxed. When I asked him to quicken, he quickened."
Stu Hale is a horse trader and Rios is now worth huge money on the international market, but Hale says he is absolutely not for sale.
"Imagine what he'll be worth when he wins a Group One race.
"New Zealand hasn't seen the last of him, I can promise that."
Trainer Murray Baker shares Walsh's absolute belief in Rios.
But the colt will not be heading to the premier spring classic, the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 17.
Instead, it is likely he will take on the Wellington Guineas, then possibly the Group One First Sovereign Trust Levin Stakes at Otaki.
More likely to be at Riccarton is stablemate Yao, who created a massive impression as a juvenile last season.
Yao, also owned by Andy Chan, has had the start of his 3-year-old career delayed by an abscess, but he is back on track and is expected to resume at Te Rapa on Friday.
Baker also has a very high opinion of his other 3-year-old Nom De Jeu, who was narrowly beaten second as the beaten favourite in lesser class at New Plymouth on Saturday.
"He's a very, very good horse and he'll come to it," predicts Baker.
"He's still in the Victoria Derby, that's how much I think of him."
Rathsallagh fought hard for second in the Bonecrusher, but the long neck margin probably flattered the runner-up a touch.
"He only does what he has to do to win," said David Walsh. "He was just playing around in the final 100m."
Coolross and Beauty Express both showed talent to finish third and fourth, but fifth-placed Pierre Joseph was a massive disappointment.
Mark Du Plessis brought him out of the trail to challenge at the 400m and the colt gave the impression he didn't want to know about it.
"Well, we'll have to try something different," said perplexed trainer Stephen McKee.