Scrutinize Earns Derby Favouritism

The Informant reports:

There is a new favourite for the BMW New Zealand Derby after Scrutinize resumed with an effortless win at Awapuni on Saturday.

Derby favouritism had previously sat with the eight-length New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Xtravagant, but he has now surrendered that title to his stablemate Scrutinize, who is more likely to target the $750,000 Ellerslie classic and provided an outstanding audition in Saturday's Rich Hill Stud 3YO.

Ridden by Chris Johnson, the beautifully bred son of Savabeel and the dual Group One winner Legs was taken back to the rear of the field early in the 1400-metre event.

Johnson brought Scrutinize to the outside to make his run down the straight, then sat motionless in the saddle as the exciting colt sailed past his opposition and drew clear to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

The easy win has seen Scrutinize's odds for the New Zealand Derby drop from $14 to outright favouritism at $8.

“I was a bit worried at the 600, but he was very good towards the end and it was a pretty soft win in the end,” said Jamie Richards, who trains the colt in partnership with Stephen Autridge. “He's looking for further already. He's an exciting colt going forward.

“I think he'll go to Ellerslie next (for the Gr. 2 Great Northern Guineas on New Year's Day and/or the Karaka 3YO Mile on January 24), but we'll just get him home and see how he's doing.

“I'd say his odds for the Derby would shorten quite a bit now. When David Ellis bought him at Karaka as a yearling he said this was his Derby colt from that group of yearlings. I'm sure his owners will have a hell of a ride.”

A half-brother to his stakes-winning stablemate Wolfwhistle, Scrutinize was bought by Ellis for $200,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka. He has now had five starts for three wins and one placing. He impressively won his first two starts before producing a powerful finishing burst to run second to Amarula in the Gr. 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas. He was unplaced as favourite in the Gr. 2 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa, albeit only 2.4 lengths from Serena Miss, before being sent out for a short break.

The runner-up today was Bella Court, who backed up well seven days on from her Eulogy Stakes placing. The previously unbeaten pair of Cochise and Mackintosh were third and fourth respectively.