By Heather Anderson
Tabbed the New Zealand champion juvenile last season on the back of a victory in the G1 J.J. Atkins going 1600 metres at Eagle Farm in June, Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) was made the $5 second favourite in Saturday's 2400-metre NZ$1-million G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby and, if he puts his best hoof forward Saturday, could prove the main danger to $4.50 morning line pick Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi {GB}). It has largely been a case of feast or famine for the son of G1 Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) who gains blinkers here, as he added two more victories–in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude upon resuming Sept. 24 and in the G2 Super Vase S. upped to 2040m at Moonee Valley two starts on Oct. 22. In between was an eighth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas in early October and the Raffles Racing colourbearer was an encouraging second in the 2500-metre G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington Oct. 29. Spelled for three months, Sacred Elixir was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths into fourth as the crowd's pick in Ellerslie's Listed NZB Insurance Karaka 3yo Mile when short on fitness with G1SP Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) one better Jan. 29. He ran up the field when seventh, far behind on slow ground in late Derby nominee and Saturday's $7 third choice Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB})'s G2 Avondale Guineas Feb. 18. Charles Road (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) was the runner-up, with Mongolian Wolf (Aus) (Pluck) completing the trifecta in that slowly run affair.
The sparsely raced Savile Row has only been a nose and a head away from tasting Group 1 glory in his last two starts, the Levin Classic at Trentham behind Hall of Fame (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) Jan. 14 and the Feb. 11 Herbie Dyke S. versus elders going 2000 metres at Te Rapa, respectively. Runner-up four starts ago to Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas Nov. 5, Savile Row saluted in a Dec. 29 handicap at Ellerslie prior to his additional Group 1 placings.
Levin Classic fifth-place finisher Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who was also second in the G1 Sistema Diamond S. at two, was one ahead of last out Feb. 18 handicap victor Excalibur (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) that day, and could be peaking at the right time. In receipt of a decent barrier in the G2 Waikato Guineas after three poor draws, the bay colt found the 2000 metres to his liking for a first black-type victory at Te Rapa Feb. 4. Otaki's G3 Wellington S. hero Lincoln Blue (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) ran third that day, one better than Cha Siu Bao (Aus) (Smart Missle {Aus}).
Rising Red (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), who exited a 2100-metre handicap with an impressive victory at Sandown Lakeside Feb. 22, is another intriguing prospect. The son of Redwood (GB) has shipped across the Tasman from former Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young's base.
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