KEY POINTS:
A new jockey is the only head-scratcher for Waikato trainer Paul Duncan after his 3-year-old Sands of Time rocketed into Queensland Derby second-favouritism at the weekend.
Mark Du Plessis copped a A$1500 ($1700) fine and suspension for careless riding after piloting Sands of Time to a narrow defeat
to the Bart Cummings-trained Empires Choice in the group three A$125,000 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben.
The suspension sidelines Du Plessis until after the group one Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 9.
"We're not sure who'll ride him yet, but there's been lots of offers," Duncan said.
"We would have loved to see Du Plessis ride him again."
Duncan said top Australian jockeys Craig Williams, Jim Cassidy, Corey Brown, Zac Purton and Glen Colless were all chasing the mount, and Sands of Time's regular New Zealand rider, Gavin McKeon, was also in contention.
Duncan said he would consult the Sandtrap gelding's Australian owners, Peter Anders and Vic Holst, who are based in the Bay of Plenty, in the next few days.
Saturday's run saw Sands of Time shorten to $6 second favouritism for the Derby on the New South Wales TAB, behind Empires Choice at $4.60.
Duncan thought Sands of Time, an $11 chance with bookmakers, should have won on Saturday after he was bottled up fifth on the rails until Du Plessis shouldered into the clear at the 200m and earned his suspension.
By that time Empires Choice was in full flight out wide, and once Sands of Time got balanced he ran the winner to a margin of a long head.
"It was a terrific run," said Duncan. "We weren't sure how he'd go. He's such a relaxed horse and Mark was pretty confident he'd get the Derby distance no trouble.
"He'll face a similar field in the Derby so he'd have to be a big chance."
The last New Zealand winner of the Queensland Derby was Royal Magic in 1992.
Sands of Time's sixth second placing goes with four wins, from 15 career starts.
The Mike Moroney-trained Resolution ran home strongly for sixth in his first Australian start and is a $21 chance for the Derby.
In the group three Premier's Cup (2200m), Brisbane Cup hope Mandela finished third to Theseo as a $2.20 favourite, carrying 58kg after being given every chance by jockey Darren Beadman.
Trainer Richard Yuill was angry at Mandela's 3kg rise from his last-start win and said he'd seek a meeting with Brisbane handicapper Lester Grimmett before the Brisbane Cup weights were released.
The six other New Zealand stayers in the Premier's all finished well back.
* Leith Innes rode Cavallo to victory for Waiuku trainer Moira Murdoch at the Sunshine Coast yesterday. The Almutawakel gelding won by a neck.
- NZPA