| Superstar three-year-old Hitotsu added to his incredible resume by completing the Victoria-Australian Derby double with a sensational win in the Sydney blue riband at Randwick today. |
| Stepping up from a first up win in last month’s Group One Australian Guineas over 1600 metres, Hitotsu let his class shine as he got home in driving finish on a heavy track. In winning the son of Maurice became the first horse since 1994 to complete the big Melbourne and Sydney Derby double – the last was Mahogany, who like Hitotsu was sold at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace were all smiles when their lightly raced colt won a third straight Group One. “I just thought he was better this prep than last prep,” co-trainer Ciaron Maher said. “The unknown was the track but I thought his quality would get him there.” “He’s all quality the horse. Johnny Allen has a lot of faith in him – you couldn’t get a stronger rider than Johnny.” “I’ve got a lot of the Ballarat crew here today. My brother drove him up. It’s just a really good effort.” “The owners really get behind him and to win two Derbies in a season is phenomenal.” “He’s a fantastic horse and the team have done an incredible job,” Maher added. “It’s great when a plan like that comes off.” The win was an eighth Group One Derby in Australia for former Irish jumps jockey turned proven big race rider John Allen. “He struggled a bit in the ground,” Allen noted. “Brenton Avdulla got a good neck on me, but my fella really knuckled down.” “He copped a couple of bumps and that really woke him up – he’s so honest, so tough!” “Even though he didn’t like the conditions it was his toughness and his class that got him there,” Allen added. Hitotsu sent his earnings soaring past $3 million with a fourth win from just eight starts. Three of his wins have come in elite three-year-old Group One Classics. Originally trained by top horsewoman Wendy Kelly, Hitotsu was selected by her husband Kevin at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he went to $100,000 to secure him from the draft of Arrowfield Stud. Kelly prepared the youngster for a juvenile campaign that included a run in the Blue Diamond Stakes for stable client Kevin Payne. Offers for the youngster came and the colt was sold to a syndicate headed by Ozzie Kheir and he was transferred to the Maher and Eustace stable. On the recommendation of his initial trainer, the Paynes kept a share in Hitotsu. Hitotsu was one of two Australian stakes winners this afternoon for sire Maurice with Mazu winning the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick. His dam, the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Love is Fickle, is a daughter of Group One winner She’s a Meanie and is accordingly a half sister to stakes winners Love Conquers All and She’s Meaner. She’s Meaner in turn is the dam of the Group Two winning sire Lean Mean Machine and the dam of stakes winner Ballistic Lover. Winner: Hitotsu Breeding: Maurice-Love is Fickle (Redoute’s Choice) Breeder: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Belford Productions Pty Ltd, Mr H Chambers Race: ATC Australian Derby G1 (2400m) Sold for: $100,000 Sale: 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Arrowfield Stud Buyer: Wendy Kelly Racing Earnings: $3,179,250 Owner(s): A Kheir, KJ Payne, Mrs VM Payne, JA O’neill, V Kheir, A J Willoughby, GJP Van Ameyden, L Caminiti, JM Simmons, D Edmonds, Carty Racing, DF Degenhardt & D Buzadzic Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace (Ballarat) |
