Jimmy Choux Wins New Zealand Derby
- Saturday, 05 March 2011 06:30
Short-priced favourite Jimmy Choux has lived up to his reputation to capture the Group One $NZ2.2 million New Zealand Derby at a rain-sodden Ellerslie in Auckland.
The Thorn Park colt, perfectly ridden by Jonathan Riddell, swept up the leaders as the field straightened for the run home on Saturday and gave none of the others a chance.
Some commentators had doubted Jimmy Choux's stamina but he ground down the field, easily holding off the challenges of second and third-placed Historian and On The Level to score an easy two-length win.
"He's something special," Riddell said.
The victory took Jimmy Choux's record to nine wins, three seconds and two thirds from 16 starts and earnings of more than $NZ2 million.
His Derby run was his first since he streeted the field in the Waikato Guineas a month ago.
The colt is trained by John Bary at Hastings.
