3 minute read

Criterion finished off best in the wet to give jockey Hugh Bowman his first Australian Derby win.

Criterion backed-up his impressive Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1 2000m) with a strong effort on the Heavy 9 track to score a game win.

Hugh Bowman had him travelling comfortably in eighth place on the rails before moving up between runners on passing the 600m. He got a split at the home turn, challenged at the 300m and rallied strongly to score a gutsy (long neck) win, running the 2400m out strongly.

Darley’s Tupac Amaru was eighth, one off the rails, before making a quick (wide) run at the 800m. He moved up strongly (wide-out) at the 600m, challenged at the 300m and continued to battled gamely for a good (long neck) second, putting up a strong staying effort.

Hooked travelled well for Blake Shinn, sixth on the rails. He got a nice run through at the turn, took a narrow lead at the 200m and then fought on particularly well for third.

Savvy Nature was seventh one off the rails, moved up well nearing the 600m, put in a run at the 300m and then kept battling on to finish (five lengths) fourth.

The NZ Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Puccini led the field until the 300m point and then held on fairly well in the heavy conditions for fifth, beaten seven and half lengths.