Tavago
Race Images PNth
The final dress rehearsal for the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby will be missing one player of note.
Tavago held sway in the Blue Riband betting market before his last-start failure and he has been ruled out of Saturday week's Gr.2 Auckland Eye Avondale Guineas.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained son of Tavistock was the favourite going into the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas, but he tailed the field home and his Derby hopes are now in the balance.
"He was jarred up after the race," Busuttin said. "He had his first-up run after eight weeks over a mile and on a two week back-up the firm track really found him out.
"He's on the water walker so we'll just see how he does. It is hard to see him turning it around and he definitely won't be in the Avondale Guineas. His next run would be in the Derby, if he gets that far."
By contrast, Predator will step out in the Avondale event to try and secure his place at Ellerslie on March 5.
"Hopefully he will run well and justify heading to the Derby," Busuttin said. "He did well to beat the older horses with 60kg at New Plymouth and they didn't do him any favours after taking him on all the way."
Stablemate Animator also has a Derby nomination and his immediate future will be clearer after he runs in the Ernie's Hay & Fencing Contracting 2100 at Awapuni on Saturday.
"It will be tough for him up against the older, seasoned handicappers," Busuttin said.
"He would have to win and win very impressively to look at the Derby. He's a December foal and he's really six months away from his best." – NZ Racing Desk.
Tavago held sway in the Blue Riband betting market before his last-start failure and he has been ruled out of Saturday week's Gr.2 Auckland Eye Avondale Guineas.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained son of Tavistock was the favourite going into the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas, but he tailed the field home and his Derby hopes are now in the balance.
"He was jarred up after the race," Busuttin said. "He had his first-up run after eight weeks over a mile and on a two week back-up the firm track really found him out.
"He's on the water walker so we'll just see how he does. It is hard to see him turning it around and he definitely won't be in the Avondale Guineas. His next run would be in the Derby, if he gets that far."
By contrast, Predator will step out in the Avondale event to try and secure his place at Ellerslie on March 5.
"Hopefully he will run well and justify heading to the Derby," Busuttin said. "He did well to beat the older horses with 60kg at New Plymouth and they didn't do him any favours after taking him on all the way."
Stablemate Animator also has a Derby nomination and his immediate future will be clearer after he runs in the Ernie's Hay & Fencing Contracting 2100 at Awapuni on Saturday.
"It will be tough for him up against the older, seasoned handicappers," Busuttin said.
"He would have to win and win very impressively to look at the Derby. He's a December foal and he's really six months away from his best." – NZ Racing Desk.