Scrutinize on Derby Quest

The Waikato Times and www.stuff.co.nz report:

Scrutinize will be all the rage in an interesting 3-year-old race at Awapuni on Saturday.

The magic of jockey Chris Johnson's left-handed action will be an assist as the richly-bred Savabeel colt takes another step on his path to the New Zealand Derby in March.

Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards train the son of New Zealand Oaks' winner Legs, the colt a $200,000 yearling purchase for his Te Akau syndicate of owners.

His four starts have produced two wins, a Group II second behind Amarula in the Hawke's Bay Guineas and a last start miss in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa in October.

He stumbled leaving the barriers in that race and lost ground then raced in restricted room.  He lay in and was held up having to be steadied by Matt Cameron who then shifted him outwards across heels - in other words, nothing went right.

Given a break after the Sarten, Saturday's race is an important launch into a series of races aimed to have him at peak for the Derby.

Awapuni will be a lead into the Group II Great Northern Guineas, the Karaka Mile and the Avondale and Waikato Guineas.

"He was bought as a potential Derby horse and hopefully that's where he will be come March," Autridge said. "He's a lovely horse and his work has been good and he will show us where he's at on Saturday."

It certainly won't be a walk in the park for him in the 1400m Rich Hill Stud Premier with impressive last start winners Cochise and Mackintosh joined by promising Curragh and last week's Eulogy Stakes runner-up Bella Court as opposition.

Mackintosh and Curragh are dual acceptors and may tackle the Rating 65 although there is a question mark over Curragh making the trip from Cambridge which would make Scrutinize's job slightly easier.

Cochise, another son of Savabeel is held in high regard by his astute Cambridge trainer Tony Pike, will keep him honest.

"If we can beat or get close to Scrutinize, obviously a talented horse held in some regard, it will encourage us to look at some of the better 3-year-old races around.

"The Great Northern Guineas on New Year's Day would be the first step and there are various other options after that."