Star rider Tommy Berry offered to handle the $44,000 late fee for nomination to propel Storm Leopard towards the ATC Australian Derby after the gelding’s resounding staying victory in the Group 2 $300,000 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
“I’ll offer to pay the late entry if they want,” Berry said.
“He’s so clean winded, he’s a real stayer. The team has done a great job with him, bringing him here in such great order.
“I only got on for the first time today so thanks to the Hayes boys for the opportunity and looking forward to hopefully riding him in the Derby.”
Trainer Ben Hayes confirmed Storm Leopard’s inclusion in the original entries for the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick next Saturday, before pulling the plug on the first acceptance fee in the gelding’s current program.
“We took him out of the ‘noms’ and were looking at the South Australian Derby but we changed plans (again) because he started to go so well,” Hayes said.”It will be a discussion we need about next week but if he pulls up well, it’s definitely something that will be considered. It is a good problem to have.”
The $4.20 pop Storm Leopard relished the lively pace set early, striking the front half-way up the straight to win convincingly by almost two lengths.
Longshot Eureka Rebel ($81) posted a promising Derby pipe-opener, storming home for second, as $5 front-runner Shangri La Boy grabbed third.
Tragedy struck when hot favourite Arcora ($2.40) incurred a critical near-fore injury while racing.
Stewards with Racing NSW debriefed Arcora’s pilot Nash Rawiller and preparers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, confirming the colt’s euthanasia.
Rawiller, masterfully pulling up the colt, recalled how it “felt amazing”.
“He got into a lovely rhythm during the race – this came out of nowhere,” Rawiller said.
Busuttin conveyed to officials that Arcora entered the Tulloch Stakes as the “soundest horse you could ever find”.
Hayes’ classy opening line came straight after Storm Leopard’s win in media duties.
“I feel for the connections of Arcora,” was Hayes’s first comment. “You never want to see that happen.”
Berry voiced his immediate concern for Rawiller astride the faltering Arcora.
“My mind was on Nash (Rawiller – on retired runner Arcora) to make sure he was alright,” Berry said.”But then you’ve got to make sure you focus up again.”
Storm Leopard took the prize with a “lot of authority” per Berry, despite straying under pressure late.
“Storm Leopard got to the leader very quickly and was left in front a long way from home,” Berry said.
“I would’ve loved to have something challenge him halfway down the straight because he felt like he was floating where he was.
“I had enough looks to make it as soft as I could late just in case he had to back up. He’s trained by a bunch of gentlemen that send their horses to Sydney in such great order so if they decided to go that way it wouldn’t be an issue.”
A Tulloch Stakes-ATC Australian Derby double beckons for Storm Leopard as potentially the 10th, after Quick Thinker (2020), Angel Of Truth (2019), Levendi (2018), Jon Snow (2017), Starcraft (2004), Ivory’s Irish (1995), Mahogany (1994), Durbridge (1991) and Prolific (1984).
Pre-Tulloch, un-nominated Storm Leopard was unquoted by TAB Fixed Odds for the Derby, but they priced him at $4.50 post-race, just behind $3.50 equals Observer and Green Spaces.
Trainer Matthew Smith lauded runner-up Eureka Rebel and fifth Dezignation’s Derby trials. “Both horses are strong, young stayers and as long as they pull up well, I would like them to back up in the Derby,” Smith said.
Kerrin McEvoy, Eureka Rebel’s rider, anticipates suitability for the gelding at Derby distance next Saturday.
“He ran really well,” McEvoy said. “I didn’t jump like we thought but he got a nice trip around and he goes to Randwick to enjoy the 2400m,” McEvoy said.
Adam Hyeronimus on third Shangri La Boy saw progress but room for polish.
“That is not the best version of him,” Hyeronimus said. “The best version of him is jump and relax in front then show his sharp turn of foot.”
Punters should check betting sites for competitive offers on the ATC Australian Derby.
