A rousing gallop by the improving Teronado on Tuesday morning has enhanced the chances of the Queensland three year old heading into the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Teronado has emerged as on of the top fancies for the Australian Derby. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Rosehill track work clocker John Moc noted that Teronado produced his best work since arriving at Rosehill and looked in top order galloping over 1000m with Senta Desert out fifteen metres on the inside grass.
On a slow surface, Teronado clocked 1.6.2 overall, running the last 600m in 37.42s and went to the line is 12.18s for the final 200m.
“The Testa Rossa gelding worked the best since being at Rosehill on Tuesday morning,” Moc wrote in his Sportsman column today.
The Bruce Hill trained gelding is standing up to a tough Autumn Carnival campaign and continues to mix it with the best three year olds in Group 1 company in Melbourne and Sydney.
Top Melbourne jockey Craig Newitt has stuck with Teronado right throughout the Autumn and the pair were beaten less than two lengths when fifth to Shamus Award in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1.
Hill then turned his attention to Sydney and Teronado ran another great race to just miss a place when fourth to Dissident, beaten one and three quarter lengths in the Group 1 $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 15.
In the Group 1 $500,000 TAB.com.au Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill two weeks ago Teronado was able to fill the third placegetters stall behind runaway winner Criterion and Thunder Fantasy.
Newitt feels that Teronado is ready to show his best stepping up to the 2400m for the first time in the Australian Derby.
“He has been looking for 2400 for three runs now and he finally gets to it,” Newitt said.
“Hopefully the rain holds off and we get a good to slow track, which would be ideal for him.
“It is a big field and hopefully it generates a lot of speed and it will come down to a slugfest late and he will be one that will be grinding home.”
The David Payne trained Criterion looked exceptional winning on the slow track in the Rosehill Guineas and the extra 400m is not going to worry the Sebring colt who put in a good effort in the Spring to run fourth to Polanski in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
Market framers had no choice but to install Criterion the favourite for the Australian Derby after his demolition of the Rosehill Guineas field with Labrokes.com.au offering $3.40 for him to make it two Group 1 wins on the trot.
New Zealand colt Puccini and the Anthony Cummings trained Thunder Fantasy share the second line of betting at $7 ahead of Teronado at $10, Singing Flame at $11 and Savvy Nature at $12.
