With the release this week of nominations for the Gr.1 Trackside NZ Derby, the focus intensifies for stamina signs amongst the three-year-old crop ahead of the March 7 Ellerslie classic.

 

Amongst the 90-odd entries for the Derby are the first three placegetters in the first black-type age-group race beyond 1600m, last week’s Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), Ohope Wins, Origin Of Love and Born To Be Royal.

 

All three fillies are also entered for the Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ Oaks (2400m), which for the first time this year will be run at Ellerslie in a month earlier time slot, two weeks before the Derby.

 

Male three-year-olds get their first chance this weekend to be tested at black-type level beyond 1600m in Sunday’s Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie, with all but one of the 13-strong field – the sole filly, Oaks-nominated Acer – also nominated for the Derby.

 

That includes Day One, a gelding by Wootton Bassett and one of 13 Derby nominations for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.

 

In his second raceday start, Day One was impressive when clearing maiden grade over 1600m at Ellerslie a month ago and he’s expected to be even more effective over Sunday’s longer race, which is dedicated to Te Akau’s 2017 NZ Derby winner Gingernuts.

 

“He’s bred to get the distance and we’re certainly looking forward to seeing him step up in trip, but it’s probably a stronger field than we’ve seen in past runnings and he’s one of a number of strong prospects,” Bergerson said.

 

“He’s a really nice progressive young horse, a big raw type who’s going the right way, so with a view to his chances of making it to the Derby, we’re keen to see how he performs on Sunday.”

 

Day One, an Elsdon Park homebred under the JML Bloodstock banner, is out of Eleonora, a grand-daughter of Hall of Fame stayer Ethereal and herself a middle-distance Group 3 winner on both sides of the Tasman as a three-year-old.

 

The Walker/Bergerson contingent for Ellerslie numbers just four, beginning with Super Seth filly Zaharias in the juvenile race, resuming from a let-up after finishing second in two late spring starts at Riccarton and Trentham.

 

“We don’t know how well that form from her first two starts stacks up,” Bergerson said, “but we’re very happy with her, she’s well drilled and has a handy draw.”

 

Blueblood colt King’s English takes on city class for the first time after clearing maiden grade with a smart performance at Te Aroha in late November.

 

By Snitzel out of the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000 winner English, King’s English has plenty to live up to, and Bergerson believes his weekend assignment will provide further evidence of his potential.

 

“This looks a sharp enough field too, but he’s a decent sort of colt, he’s drawn to get the right trip, and what he does will give us a line on whether he can go to a race like the Almanzor Trophy back at Ellerslie later in the month.”

 

Dream Of The Moon completes the stable contingent in Sunday’s Rating 75 1400m, in which she will carry topweight of 59 kilograms as the only stakes winner in the field.

 

“She had no luck in her first-up run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day after drawing one and getting shuffled back near enough to last,” Bergerson said.

 

“As it was she did well to finish late into fourth, so up to 1400m as well as the improvement she would have taken out of that race, we’re looking for a better result.”

 

With first choice rider Opie Bosson under suspension until Monday, Day One will be ridden by Rory Hutchings, Zaharias by Joe Doyle and King’s English and Dream Of The Moon by Craig Grylls.