Spade Forced to Dig Deep for Second Derby

Raiding trainer Lance O'Sullivan admits his confidence in Rocket Spade's prospects for Australia's richest staying classic hasn't been bolstered by the subsequent Australian performances of the pair that trailed him home in the Gr1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock-Affairoftheheart, by Fusaichi Pegasus) is currently on the third line of betting for the $2 million Gr1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday after beating Milford (Savabeel) by a short neck in the New Zealand Derby, with Frontman (Makfi) finishing just a further short head back in third. However, in their respective races since the New Zealand Derby, both Milford and Frontman – who races as The Frontman in Australia – disappointed when finishing well held eighth-placings in their Australian debuts, Milford in the Gr1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and The Frontman in the Gr2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m). "If they had been running close-up it would have given us a lot more encouragement," acknowledged O'Sullivan, who trains Rocket Spade in partnership with Andrew Scott. One thing that might help is that Rocket Spade hasn't usually won by large margins but instead does what he needs only, suggesting that he potentially has more to offer than he needed to win the New Zealand Derby. "He travelled well to Sydney on Monday and ate up very well on Tuesday night," stated O'Sullivan of Rocket Spade who is joined in Australia by veteran stablemate Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie) who runs on Saturday in the Gr2 Chairman's Quality (2600m) – a race he won three years ago.

Rocket Spade has a task in the Australian Derby (pic: Trish Dunell)