Guineas Win for Surely Sacred

Media Release - Saturday February 16

Lightly raced three-year-old Surely Sacred showed he will be awfully hard to beat in the Group I Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) in a fortnight when he scored handsomely in the Group II Schweppes Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.

Surely Sacred - Trish DunnellSpruiked as a Derby prospect after winning the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) on New Year's Day, when having just his third career start, the Rock 'n' Pop gelding followed that up with a tidy effort for fifth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) late last month.

That effort saw him installed as second favourite for Saturday's traditional Derby lead-up, where he didn't let his backers down with a powerful staying effort to secure a narrow but impressive victory.

Settled in mid-field by rider Vinnie Colgan, Surely Sacred lobbed along nicely as pacemaker The Chosen One set a steady speed out in front. The attacks came at the 800m mark with In A Twinkling making a lightning move to dispute the pace as the tempo quickened.

Not to be caught napping, Colgan sent Surely Sacred on a searching wide run where he hit the front shortly after straightening before fending off the challenge of In A Twinkling by a head at the line, with Vernanme running on strongly for third.

"It was a good, tough win as they put the pressure on pretty early," trainer Tony Pike said.

"Vinnie set him alight pretty early and he has hit the front early enough.

"He (Colgan) probably left a little bit of juice in the tank knowing he had already qualified for the Derby and he will improve off that again.

"Just the way he travelled up to them today was nice to see, he wasn't in any trouble and I can't wait for two weeks' time."

Pike was pleased with the effort by Colgan, who showed plenty of initiative to set out after the leaders at just the right time.

"Vinnie has elected to get on his bike and put him into the race which was probably the winning of it," he said.

"He possibly got there too soon, but he will improve and it would be nice to get a second Derby win."

Pike collected his first New Zealand Derby title in 2016 with Rangipo and believes Surely Sacred compares favourably in comparison.

"This horse is probably more of a genuine stayer although he's still learning whereas Rangipo was the ultimate professional," Pike said.

"The Derby was his (Rangipo's) tenth run that season so he was just a real warrior, while this horse has a touch of class on his side.

"He (Surely Sacred) wandered around a little bit when out there on his own today, he did that when he got beaten here in the Great Northern Guineas, where he switched off.

"He nearly did that again today, but they had their chance to run him down and they couldn't".

Surely Sacred is a son of five-race winner Not Sure and was purchased by owners Raffles Racing from Waikato Stud's Premier draft at the 2017 National Yearling Sale.

The victory by Surely Sacred provoked some quick changes to the TAB Fixed Odds market for the New Zealand Derby with Surely Sacred now a clear $3 favourite ahead of Vernanme ($8) for the blue riband event to be held at Ellerslie on March 2. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
First Stakes-Winner for Rock 'n' Pop
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike may have unveiled a major player in New Zealand's three-year-old ranks after Surely Scared showed a devastating turn of foot to take out the Group II Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on Tuesday.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.