Racing: Smart moves secure Derby

It has been a slow and frustrating return to race riding for Michael Walker but no one could begrudge him victory aboard Military Move in the $2.2 million Telecom Derby.

Despite nearly killing himself in a horrific pig hunting accident in May 2008, Walker has shown great tenacity to return to the track. He produced a classical ride aboard the Shaune Ritchie-trained Military Move to win New Zealand's premier 3-year-old race.

Walker gave Military Move a dream sit behind the leader throughout in a race where the tempo was erratic and played right into his hands.

He charged to the front at the top of the home straight and kicked clear to win by a length from the fast-closing Corporal Jones with a further nose back to Handsome Zulu (third).

A further 1 lengths away in fourth position was Zarzuela.

While Corporal Jones, Zarzuela and Katie Lee got too far back in the running this played right into the hands of Military Move and Walker who enjoyed an economical sit close to the speed in a race that developed into a sprint home.

I galloped this horse on Tuesday morning and I knew he could win and once we got the sit close to the leaders we were always going to be hard to roll, said Walker.

A lot of credit and thanks must go to Shaune Ritchie as he got this horse fit and ready to run out a tough 2400m when some people may have thought he was a 1600-2000m horse.

I knew at the top of the straight that I had this race won as he was travelling very well and had done no work while a few other runners were going to have to cover a stack of ground to get into the race.

The Telecom (formerly New Zealand) Derby is an event in which Ritchie has tasted success. He was strapper when Bonecrusher won the 1985 New Zealand Derby for Shaune's father Frank.

All we needed was a good draw and a good track and we seemed to handle the track today despite the rain, said Ritchie. You always need a bit of luck in these Group One races and the race was run perfectly for us as they slowed the pace during the middle stages and we were there, ready to pounce.

This horse will now head to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Derby and hopefully I can train another top horse for the owner Steven Kit Sing Lo.

Corporal Jones - also Hong Kong bound - lost few admirers coming from last on the home turn to finish second.

MICHAEL COLEMAN warmly praised Obsession following her easy victory in the $45,000 (Listed) Westbury Classic.

Coleman gave the daughter of Bachelor Duke a dream sit behind the pace-setting Ruud Van Slaats and pounced at the top of the home straight, effortlessly clearing out from the opposition.

Obsession scored by a half-length over Casabella Lane with a further three-quarters of a length back to Ruud Van Slaats.

Coleman made the most of the 3-year-old's advantage under the handicapping conditions and forced the opposition to chase hard.

"Some people think her last-start failure at Te Rapa could be because she couldn't stay but I still think she must've had a problem somewhere niggling her because she's a very good filly," said Coleman.

Trainer Frank Ritchie was enjoying an impressive piece of horsemanship getting the filly back into winning form over 1400m and a disappointing last-start failure over 2000m.

"I was a bit worried she may not have freshened up and being sharp enough to get 1400m today but clearly she was ready," said Ritchie. "We'll now look at the feature fillies and mares 1600m race at Te Aroha."

Auckland Cup hopefuls were upstaged by a Ruakaka gelding with no cup pretensions in the final prep race for Wednesday's $1 million contest.

Natsinga proved too good in the Nathans Memorial (2200m) beating Cup contenders Minqar Qaim and Seaflyte.

Minqar Qaim, a lightweight chance in the Cup, was just a short neck back and might have won with a slightly clearer run.

Seaflyte was three-quarters of a length away third.

The topweight and last year's Cup winner, Spin Around, ran on nicely for sixth and will drop in weight on Wednesday.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA