Tarzino, Gailo Chop Win on Victoria Derby Day

New Zealand-bred Tarzino left the gate the favorite and outstayed his 15 overmatched rivals in the Aus$1.5million AAMI Victoria Derby (Aus-I) Oct. 31 at Flemington. 

 

The card included three other group I races, including the Aus$1 million Longines Mackinnon Stakes, won by Gailo Chop.

 

Ridden by Craig Newett for Mick Price, Tarzino came from midfield off a swift pace for two-length triumph over Etymology, with Kia Ora Koutou third, 6 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

 

Iron Boss put in a strong performance as the field race up to the home turn, with Shards, Ayers Rock, and Colonel Custer, prominent early, still in contention.

 

Once into the stretch, the picture changed dramatically, as Tarzino launched his rally and proved too far too strong to get his first stakes victory. 

 

Tarzino was timed in 2:38.39 for 2,500 meters (about 1 9/16 miles) on soft turf, improving to 3-0-2 from six career starts for a syndicate.

 

By Tavistock, Tarzino was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan from Zarzino, by Zabeel. He finished third in the Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase (Aug-II) Oct. 23 at Moonee Valley after beginning his career in July. Price paid Aus$60,000 ($55,668) for Tarzino at the Magic Millions national yearling sale on the Gold Coast.

 

Also on the Victoria Derby card, multiple French group winner Gailo Chop took charge soon after the start and was never headed en route to victory in the Mackinnon Stakes. 

 

Stratum Star was the favorite in the field of 13 and led for a few strides before surrendering the lead to Gailo Chop, who was having his second start in Australia.

 

Rising Romance made a determined bid for the lead as the field turned for home, pursued by Contributor and Magic Artist, and for a moment it looked as if one of them would overtake Gailo Chop, but digging deep he kicked away to secure a half-length win.

 

Under Ben Melham, Gailo Chop covered 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:03.56.

 

Rising Romance came in second, followed by Contributor in third.

 

A 5-year-old gelding by Deportivo, Gailo Chop is out of Grenoble, by Marignan, and is trained by Antoine de Watrigant (France) for a large syndicate that includes well-known racing commentator Francesca Cumani, daughter of British-based trainer Luca Cumani.

 

The Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered name Ascot Vale Stakes), was the first of the top-level races of the day and resulted in an upset win by Japonisme, giving trainer Chris Waller his third straight victory in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) race. 

 

Japonisme surged ahead in the closing stages, winning by 1 1/2 lengths from Keen Array. Counter Attack, also trained by Waller, was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. The finishing time was 1:09.50.

 

Japonisme, bred and raced by members of the Australia's Ingham family, was ridden by Glyn Schofield and won for the fifth time in 10 career starts. He is a 3-year-old gelding by Choisir out of Haiku, by Encosta de Lago.

 

Politeness won for the third time in as many starts this season in taking the Aus$500,000 Myer Classic by three-quarters of a length over Fenway. Azkadellia a half head third, May's Dream a half-length back in fourth.

 

By Darley's Central Kentucky sire Street Sense  , 5-year-old Politeness is the sixth top-level winner for her sire. She is owned by Katsumi Yoshida and Phil Sly, the latter in ill health but is always on hand for her races. 

 

"It's a great, great feeling, I don't even feel like I've got cancer at the moment. It keeps me alive," said Sly, following Politeness' win on Saturday.

 

Ridden by Dwayne Dunn for Robert Smerdon, Politeness settled near the back of the field and wound up her rally when the field turned for home. She strode up to the leaders under a hold before kicking clear with a furlong to run, finishing 1,600 meters (about a mile) in 1:37.75.

 

From the unraced Commands mare Berengaria, Politeness earned a fifth group win in taking her record to 8-1-3 from 26 starts.

 

Politeness was bred by Sledmere Stud and sent her to the 2012 Inglis Easter yearling sale she sold to Malua Bloodstock in conjunction with Bahen Bloodstock for Aus$115,000 ($118,600).