Territory Derby Winner Earns Cup Tilt
- Monday, 28 July 2003 00:00
Kambula stallion Blevic annexed another feature race on Saturday when his gelded son Tjilpi scored a thrilling win in the $70,000 Northern Territory Derby.
Partnered by talented local Dale Coffey Tjilpi came from the rear of the field to fight out a desperately close finish with the Graham Rogerson trained Wild Heart, a horse that was placed behind Helenus in the group two AAMI Vase in the spring. Darwin Guineas winner Edge to Edge followed the pair in third place.
The win completed a remarkable recovery for Tjilpi who returned to racing in June after several months spent on the sidelines with a troublesome knee injury that required surgery. Former hoop turned trainer Rod Wittwer nursed the gelding back to health in his Adelaide stables before his transfer to the Territory stables of Catriona Green who trains the gelding for breeder and long time owner Kevin Hart.
Hart bred Tjilpi from the Bletchalong mare Our Jessica. A member of a modest family Our Jessica nevertheless won five races from 1000 to 1500 metres. Her sire Bletchalong, by champion sire and broodmare sire Bletchingly, was an unraced half brother to the multiple stakes winner and Blue Diamond victor Let’s Get Physical.
The winner of four races from just eleven starts Tjilpi has earned over $80,000 for connections and will almost certainly line up in the $125,000 Darwin Cup (listed race) on Monday week.
