A long range plan is set to pay dividends for top Adelaide trainer Richard Jolly after Hioctdane rocketed into calculations for the Group 1 $500,000 Centrebet South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday with an unexpected win over the weekend.
Hioctdane is ready for SA Derby after runaway win in the Chairman's Veolia Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Jolly orchestrated a plan for this week’s Derby after Hioctdane won the Listed $80,000 Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville in October last year and now has the in-form gelding in peak condition heading into the three year classic on his home track.
“He was always a bit immature, there were thoughts of going to Melbourne after he won the Hill Smith but I knew he was at the end of it,” Jolly said.
Jolly was quite surprised that Hioctdane was able to win so easily at the finish after having to do plenty of work in the early stages and after being caught wide raced away to record a four and a quarter lengths victory over Pharomac in the Group 3 $115,000 Chairman’s Veolia Stakes (2000m).
“He was cherry ripe, there’s always queries on them running out the distance strong, but he was really impressive,” Jolly said.
“He did a bit of work early, he was out very wide – he didn’t have the best run in the race – but he just rounded them up and won easily.”
Saturday was Hioctdane’s fourth run back this time in and Jolly in quite confident his Derby hope won’t have any trouble backing up in the week and is still on the improve.
“The preparation revolved around the Chairman’s and next week, so we’re rapt with him. I was surprised, I didn’t think he’d win like that,” Jolly said.
“He’s just kept improving, we’ve built him up slowly, so next week he’ll be even better.”
The South Australian Derby is shaping as a good contest with the Gai Waterhouse trained Hippopus and the Victorian three year old Hvasstan both heading to Morphettville on Saturday.
Waterhouse elected to go to Melbourne with Hippopus after running fifth to It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 $1.5m David Jones Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 13 and picked up the spoils in the Listed $150,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day.
While Peter Gelagotis elected to go straight to Morphettvile without another run after finishing sixth in the Australian Derby.
2013 South Australian Derby Nominations
| – | Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ADJUSTER | Byron Cozamanis | 20 | 56.5kg | 71 |
| 2 | BEFITTING | Rick Hore-Lacy | 41 | 56.5kg | 56 |
| 3 | BEL THOR | Wez Hunter | 27 | 56.5kg | 65 |
| 4 | COOLDINI | Robert Smerdon | 26 | 56.5kg | 66 |
| 5 | CORONIS (NZ) | Brian Jenkins | 42 | 56.5kg | 53 |
| 6 | DARUNA | David Payne | 28 | 56.5kg | 65 |
| 7 | DELAGOS | Anthony Cummings | 29 | 56.5kg | 65 |
| 8 | DIFFERING FORTUNES | Daniel Clarken | 10 | 56.5kg | 73 |
| 9 | DON’T THINK DO | Will Clarken | 39 | 56.5kg | 59 |
| 10 | DOWN THE MIDDLE | Richard Jolly | 40 | 56.5kg | 57 |
| 11 | ESCADO | Matt Laurie | 23 | 56.5kg | 68 |
| 12 | GERONTIUS | David Hayes | 8 | 56.5kg | 74 |
| 13 | GINGERBOY | Darren Weir | 34 | 56.5kg | 61 |
| 14 | GOLD MEDALS (NZ) | Bill & Symon Wilde | 22 | 56.5kg | 70 |
| 15 | HE’SNOTTHEMESSIAH (NZ) | Michael Kent | 35 | 56.5kg | 61 |
| 16 | HIOCTDANE | Richard Jolly | 5 | 56.5kg | 85 |
| 17 | HIPPOPUS (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse | 3 | 56.5kg | 87 |
| 18 | HONORIUS | David Payne | 6 | 56.5kg | 81 |
| 19 | HVASSTAN | Peter Gelagotis | 1 | 56.5kg | 95 |
| 20 | JUMEIRAH PALACE (NZ) | Mark Kavanagh | 31 | 56.5kg | 63 |
| 21 | KEMTAIN | Clinton McDonald | 36 | 56.5kg | 61 |
| 22 | KING OF OLYMPIA | Gai Waterhouse | 14 | 56.5kg | 66 |
| 23 | LASER FLASH | David Payne | 9 | 56.5kg | 74 |
| 24 | LIKE A CAROUSEL | Ken Keys | 38 | 56.5kg | 59 |
| 25 | MCNULTY | Michael Kent | 25 | 56.5kg | 67 |
| 26 | NORTHERN JOURNEY | David Brideoake & David Feek | 37 | 56.5kg | 60 |
| 27 | OUT OF COOBER | Bill Smart | 17 | 56.5kg | 77 |
| 28 | PACKING EMPIRE (NZ) | David Hayes | 32 | 56.5kg | 63 |
| 29 | PHAROMAC | Tony McEvoy | 12 | 56.5kg | 71 |
| 30 | PINS OF PELE (NZ) | Anthony Freedman | 13 | 56.5kg | 68 |
| 31 | PRISONER OF WAR | David Hayes | 33 | 56.5kg | 62 |
| 32 | SERPENT (NZ) | Murray Baker | 19 | 56.5kg | 72 |
| 33 | SHOREHAM | Saab Hasan | 18 | 56.5kg | 74 |
| 34 | WILD JOURNEY | Tony McEvoy | 30 | 56.5kg | 64 |
| 35 | ALZORA | David Hayes | 15 | 54.5kg | 85 |
| 36 | GLOBAL BALANCE | David Hayes | 2 | 54.5kg | 90 |
| 37 | GREEN ROLLER | David Hayes | 21 | 54.5kg | 70 |
| 38 | KAZANLUK | Anthony Freedman | 4 | 54.5kg | 85 |
| 39 | LUCKY LIVI | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 24 | 54.5kg | 68 |
| 40 | MOLTO BENE | Roslyn Day | 16 | 54.5kg | 78 |
| 41 | SUMMERBLISS | Michael Kent | 7 | 54.5kg | 80 |
| 42 | TRANSONIC | John P Thompson | 11 | 54.5kg | 71 |
