Peter Fenemor: Classy Cambridge NZ Derby heats
Peter Fenemor • March 6th, 2025 10:39 AM • 3 min read
High quality chasing action is assured during today’s twilight meeting at the Cambridge Raceway, headlined by four compelling 457m heats for the New Zealand Derby.
Just making the final field for next Thursday’s Gr.1 $50,000 decider will be an achievement, such is the depth of class contained in the heat line-ups.
Here’s a look at some of the leading contenders, along with their TAB Futures (All In) quotes.
NZ Derby – Heat 1 (Race 9)
Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie has the recent NZ St Leger winner Original Warrior ($14 & $3.60) engaged here. He’s in form and he returns north after winning his only previous 457m race at this here in 25.86.
Kennelmate Opawa Simpson ($14 & $3.60) has been sprinting lately which includes his slick 20.88 375m win at this venue two-races ago. He won his Addington debut race over 525m in 30.75. His sheer pace makes him a contender here.
Turtle Watch ($18 & $4.40) brings the field quickest 25.56 457m time into this heat for the sisters Lisa and Tracey Craik. His local knowledge will assist his qualifying claims.
Garry Cleeve travels north with the talented Stuck Throttle ($18 & $4.40) and he has placed in both of his 457m assignments on this track. He is generally sighted doing his best work at the business end of his races.
Need A Favour ($41 & $9) faces his toughest career test in this field for Lisa Cole. He has compiled tidy looking stats from the one-trap, which is a trap from where he must take up a forward early position.
NZ Derby – Heat 2 (Race 10)
The slick greyhound Jerry Cola ($5 & $1.80) has been installed as the NZ Derby series favourite for the Fahey and Wyllie partnership. The 16.47 Addington 295m track record holder won all three of his C1 457m races on the similarly shaped Ascot Park, the quickest being a fast 25.57.
Boom Dynamite ($14 & $3.60) is a Cole prepared pacey greyhound as seen by his field best 25.42 457m clock. He must break quickly from his eight-trap draw as he’s likely to seek out the rails when going into the turn.
Zestful ($16 & $4) returns north with Cleeve and he has previously raced generously around this circuit including a 25.61 457m win.
Riley Evans gave his charge Goldstar Murphy ($26 & $6) his first look at this track last week. He is likely to have derived benefit from that outing where he received few racing favours.
Romantic Rebel ($18 & $4.40) is making his track debut for Matt Roberts here. He won his C0 457m race at the Manawatu Raceway in 25.76 and he last raced over at Ascot Park finishing third in a 457m C5 event.
Opawa Thunder ($61 & $13) holds a C5 grading for Glenis Farrell and his local 457m knowledge can aid his advancement claims.
NZ Derby – Heat 3 (Race 11)
The Addington 29.50 525m track record holder Paw Bradley ($7 & $2.20) returns here following his recent sound track debut 457m race. Craig Roberts will have him ready to deliver a competitive race. He’s likely to benefit from the vacant box inside him following the scratching of Opawa Marsh.
Schmeichel ($26 & $6) is in career best form for the Craik sisters as seen by his bold recent on-the-pace Manukau 527m wins.
Jay Walker ($21 & $5) is an Addington 525m Group 1 winner for Cleeve who is provided with swooping claims from his trap-eight draw.
The track debuting Mitcham Blake ($51 & $11) is a last start 22.50 Ascot Park 390m C5 winner for Jonathon McInerney. He has won four lower grade 457m races in the deep-south. He must break quickly from his good two-trap draw.
NZ Derby – Heat 4 (Race 12)
Everest Sky ($6 & $2) is currently low-flying for the Fahey and Wyllie combination and the recent Group 1 318m winner can handle the 457m trip as seen by his strong 25.67 win here two races ago,.
Both of the recent Manukau Group 1 winners will contest this heat with the 527m Auckland Cup winner More Magic ($16 & $4) taking his place here for Lisa Cole. He didn’t receive any early racing favours during his 457m outing here last week.
Opawa Blake ($18 & $4.40) owns a real sharp 25.27 457m best time here. Replicating that time should be sufficient for the locally Wayne and Tracy Steele trained chaser to book a final field place.
True Ability ($41 & $9) owns the ability to claim a qualifying place in this field for Cleeve. He has been a previous 25.79 457m winner at this venue.
Loveable Rogue ($51 & $11) has been 313m straight track racing lately, which includes his recent strong 17.31 win for his conditioner Jamie Pruden. He must secure a forward early possie here.
Impressive Roar ($41 & $9) was a recent 525m Group 1 finalist for McInerney who is making his track debut here. He won lower graded Ascot Park 457m races and he’s another contender who needs to search out the early pace here.
Heats for two Group 2 races will also be held during the meeting. There are two-heats for the $20,000 Lois Henley Memorial Trophy over 457m.
The sprinters will be in action as they will contest three heats over the 375m dash, seeking final field positions for in the $20,000 Angus Wright Memorial Sprint.
The meeting opens with the stayers racing over the 650m distance with the Cole prepared hot stayer Johnny Football seeking to maintain his 11 race unbeaten streak over the 650m distance.
The majority of the field will return on the March 13 finals night to contest the $20,000 Theresa McDonald Cup over 747m at Group 2 level.
Picture at the Top of the Page: Everest Sky is seeking back-to-back Group 1 titles when he starts his NZ Derby campaign at the Cambridge Raceway today. Credit: Auckland GRC
