3 minute read

Nigel Tiley believes his unbeaten colt Demonetization is classic material.

The Pukekohe horseman can speak with authority having ridden Ring The Bell to Gr.1 New Zealand Derby success in 1980 and he also trained Look Who’s Talking to claim top honours in the Ellerslie feature 14 years later.

Tiley is now keen to target the Vodafone-sponsored Blue Riband event with Demonetization, who kept his perfect record intact in Saturday’s Fertco 1400m at Tauranga.

“He was very well and he’s got a great attitude,” he said. “He’s definitely going to stay and the Derby is the race to look at.

“He’s always showed me a lot. He’s a very casual horse and so laid back, he’s saves it all for race day.”

A debut winner on his home track last month, Demonetization was tardily away under rider Jason Waddell who didn’t panic and settled at the back of the field.

“It wasn’t such a bad thing, if he had gone forward from his wide gate he would probably have been caught three wide,” Tiley said.

Waddell urged the colt around runners across the top and Demonetization finished over the top of the stakes-performed filly Kapoor to win by a short head.

“I might take him to Ellerslie for a look around there in the Bonecrusher Stakes before he goes out for a break,” Tiley said.

A son of All Too Hard and the Zabeel mare Midnight Special, Demonetization joined Tiley’s stable after his $220,000 purchase out of Mana Park’s Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka last year.