Jon Snow wins 2017 Australian Derby Group 1 $2Million at Randwick (NSW) 3yo, 2400m.
The New Zealand-trained colt Jon Snow followed his impressive win in the Tulloch Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Rosehill on 25 March at his Australian debut to take out this famous race in a solid staying performance. He had an ideal trip in second place tracking the leader (Harper’s Choice) before moving up at the 600m, challenged strongly at the 200m and finished too well to score a very good win.
Harper's Choice went to the front, set a reasonably sound tempo in the Heavy 8 conditions and picked up the pace when a number of challengers came nearing the home turn. He then held a good break at the 250m and fought well for second after running a bold race at long odds.
Hardham settled in sixth place, one off the rails, moved up well (deep) nearing the home turn, got to third at the 200m and then fought really gamely to take third in a good staying effort.
Ruthven was fourth on the rails, moved up at the 600m and then kept fighting on well to finish (2.1 lengths) fourth, putting up a solid effort at only his seventh race start.
The favourite Gingernuts settled in tenth place, improved smartly (deep) from the 700m and was widest of all nearing the home turn. He then battled on quite well for (3.3 lengths) fifth, his first defeat at his last five starts, suggesting that he may have reached the end of a very successful preparation.
Inference settled in eighth place, improved (deep) with a number of challengers at the 600m and then fought on for (5.4 lengths) sixth.
