Sacred Elixir
Darryl Sherer
Zac Purton will be reunited with the New Zealand three-year-old Sacred Elixir in Saturday's $A1.5 million Gr.1 VRC Derby at Flemington.
The Hong Kong-based Australian won the Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm last season aboard the Tony Pike-trained son of Pour Moi.
The gelding won Saturday's Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase in the hands of Damian Lane, but Purton has always had first call on the Derby mount.
Pike said Sacred Elixir would be much better-suited by the Flemington course and he was confident the Derby trip would also present no problem.
"He's got a real New Zealand staying pedigree behind him. It all bodes well for the Derby against his own age group. He was strong on Saturday and I can't see the 2500 metres being a problem."
The Hong Kong-based Australian won the Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm last season aboard the Tony Pike-trained son of Pour Moi.
The gelding won Saturday's Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase in the hands of Damian Lane, but Purton has always had first call on the Derby mount.
Pike said Sacred Elixir would be much better-suited by the Flemington course and he was confident the Derby trip would also present no problem.
"He's got a real New Zealand staying pedigree behind him. It all bodes well for the Derby against his own age group. He was strong on Saturday and I can't see the 2500 metres being a problem."