Runner by Runner: W.A.T.C. Derby

Posted on April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Another Chino (56.5kg)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Troy Turner
Barrier: 2

He looks a good old-fashioned stayer. He takes a while to build through his gears, he doesn’t have a great deal of point to point speed or acceleration, but once he hits his top he will continue to hold that speed and attack the line regardless of whether the race is 1800m, 2200m, 2400m or even 3200m in time. He was the beneficiary of a masterful piece of riding in the Melvista Stakes. Brad Parnham had the option of going out and around Playhouse Patron or rolling the dice and going inside of him. When he made the move he would either end up on the back of Demolish (race winning move) or on the back of Big Red Hawk (race ending move). Fortune favours the brave and Another Chino and Brad Parnham were rewarded with another Stakes victory. Meets his Melvista Stakes rivals 2kg better at SW for beating them and looms as one of the three big players in this year’s Derby.

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2. Demolish (56.5kg)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Steve Parnham
Barrier: 3

Second in the Lex Piper Stakes when three deep throughout with no cover (bringing the eventual winner All The King’s Men into the race), second in the JC Roberts Stakes when chasing a wildly strong speed (first 1200m run 15L faster than average) and then again second when run down in the shadows of the post by Another Chino in the Melvista Stakes. He’s now been left a sitting duck at his last two outings and you wonder whether Neville Parnham and Stevie Parnham will hatch a plan to see him chasing one down in the home straight, allowing him to be predator rather than prey. Has been huge in each and every lead up feature but continues to find one better than him. Hard to knock but can’t seem to find the perfect set-up.

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3. Awesome John (56.5kg)

Trainer: John O’Shea
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 8

Sole interstate representative in the WATC Derby and brings another layer of form and a big level of interest. Many will argue that he brings the best form into the race having finished third at Group Two Level at Rosehill in the Tulloch Stakes over 2000m behind Tapildoodledo and subsequent Group One Australian Derby winner Major Beel. Considering the strength of that form, the decision of trainer John O’Shea to travel his gelding across to Perth and the key booking of William Pike, he is sure to have a large following. He has been the big market mover over the last 14 days and expect he’ll continue to be popular throughout the week, to the point where he probably jumps favourite come Saturday afternoon. Real X-Factor runner who has added another element of class and intrigue to the Derby.

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4. Playhouse Patron (56.5kg)

Trainer: Bob McPherson
Jockey: Joseph Azzopardi
Barrier: 4

When watching the replay of the Melvista Stakes you start to wonder, if you swap the runs of Playhouse Patron and Another Chino do you swap the result? Is the additional ground covered by Playhouse Patron and Joey Azzopardi the difference between winning and running third? Sectionally he was probably the superior run as a WATC Derby trial. He ran the fastest L600, 400 & 200 of the race and clearly the fastest individual L200 split. He has attacked the line in the JC Roberts, attacked the line in the Melvista Stakes and gives every indication that he will see out a strong 2400m. Re-applying the blinkers in the Melvista Stakes certainly helped him work through the flat spot he tends to hit at the 600 and he looks a live chance with the right run.

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5. She’s Fit (54.5kg)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 1

Flashed potential with a luckless third in the Ascot 1000 Guineas 4.5L off Admiration Express and Feels Playful before demolishing them in a strong staying performance in the Natasha Stakes clocking the fastest overall L1200, 1000, 800, 600, 400 & 200. To the delight of the majority of Western Australian punters she went around on the second line of betting in the WA Oaks. Chris Parnham took luck out of the equation when rolling around them to the top prior to the three deep train building around him mid-race and rode her like the best stayer in the field. She’s again clocked the fastest L1200, 1000, 800, 600, 400 & 200 of the race in the Oaks and most impressively, the fastest individual furlong splits 400 – 200 & 200 – Post. She was running away from them at the end of 2400m. Barrier 1 is a bit of a curveball…does she lead?

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6. Megami (54.5kg)

Trainer: Takahide Ikenushi
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 5

Just how good is the Ike Racing operation is going? This filly is hard work. She resumed on the 20^th November with a first-up win at 1650m when romping in by over 4L in a lowly midweek maiden. Since then she’s had gear changes, race pattern changes, been back to trials, back to races, up in distance, down in distance and somehow Takahide Ikenushi has managed to squeeze 11 runs out of her and picked up a Black Type placing along the way when finishing second in the Natasha Stakes to She’s Fit. Patrick Carbery is now given the unenviable task of attempting to settle her in the middle stages as Brad Parnham jumps off to retain the ride on JC Roberts and Melvista Stakes winner Another Chino.

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7. Bernbrae (54.5kg)

Trainer: Adam Durrant
Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Barrier: 6

Doesn’t have the brilliance of the other fillies in the field but she’s a genuine staying filly. Fought back underneath of Admiration Express to nudge her out of second placing in the WA Oaks. Hard to see her being a realistic chance of turning the tables on She’s Fit but she’ll be there at the end of the 2400m. You would imagine that they’ll adopt similar tactics in the Derby, roll forward to either lead or breeze in a race where nobody else really wants to be there and then if challenged at any stage, hand-up and take cover. Job well done getting Black Type in the Oaks. The Derby looks 4 – 5L tougher.

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8. Celebrity Icon (54.5kg)

Trainer: Luke Fernie
Jockey: Lucy Fiore
Barrier: 7

Was an impressive effort when stepping up 900m in trip from a 1300m maiden to a 2200m at Pinjarra when parking out the back, ambling up on straightening and putting away moderate opposition in a bound. She then went to an open 50+ ratings race at Belmont Park where she blew a gale in betting, went up $4.80 and traded double figures prior to jumping. She only beat three horses home and there were six battling midweek stayers who ran faster L600s than her (Float Our Boat, Lautre, Rebel Man, Luke’s Pierro, Magic Whistle and Maktastic). Understand a throw at the stumps to try and pinch some Black Type but she’ll go round the roughie of the field.

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SELECTION: SHE’S FIT

Gave Chris Parnham his fourth WA Oaks and will look to secure the Morton/Parnham combination back to back WATC Derby victories after the emphatic 2022 win of Alaskan God. She showed last start that she’s tactically versatile, which is important in yet another staying feature race without any discernible speed. She’s clocked the fastest overall splits from the 1200 onwards in her last two feature wins and she looks hard to beat with a 2kg pull on the boys. The WA Oaks was run 18L slower than average, so it would be no surprise to see her easy in betting. Don’t think there’s any rush to get on, we can wait and see what price she gets to on race day.

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