So Close Again for Te Akau

The Informant reports:

Another Vodafone New Zealand Derby, another narrow defeat for the Te Akau Racing team.

Since winning the Ellerslie classic two years ago with Gingernuts, the Te Akau stable has come out on the wrong side of two thrilling photo finishes. Mongolianconqueror was edged out by a nose by Vin De Dance last year, and today In A Twinkling came up a head short of the $105 shock winner Crown Prosecutor.

“It's the second year in a row that's happened to us in the Derby,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said. “But he ran a very big race and we're proud of him.”

In A Twinkling had produced a mammoth performance to run second in the Avondale Guineas two weeks ago, racing wide well back in the field around the first corner before working hard to sit outside the leader.

His performance was full of merit again on Saturday, covering significantly more ground than the winner but never giving it away.

Singapore-based Australian jockey Glen Boss, who has now picked up a New Zealand Derby placing to go with his runner-up finish on Booming in an Auckland Cup, was impressed by his mount's performance.

“He ran well,” he said. “He was a bit slow out and there was a lot of action going into that first turn. I was three-wide for most of the race and I started to edge forward at the half-mile (800m) as he's that type of horse.

“I felt like I had the winner beaten the whole length of the straight, but he kept fighting back and pulling out a little more, so full credit to him.”

Making the occasion even more special for Te Akau, their retired star Gingernuts led out the field for the Derby.

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