Racing
Dad And Dave’s Derby Delight
Ciaron Maher secures his second Tasmanian Derby victory with Dad And Dave.
Dad And Dave has handed trainer Ciaron Maher his second Tasmanian Derby victory, winning the three-year-old feature at Elwick Racecourse.
The son of Time Test is the seventh horse to win both the Launceston Guineas and the Tasmanian Derby.
Maher's first victory in the three-year-old feature came in partnership with David Eustace, with multiple Group 1 winner Explosive Jack in 2021.
Stable representative Nikki White said the gelding continues to raise the bar.
"He's sort of been a bit of a dark horse," she said.
"We didn't screw him down as much at home, but we just knew we had potential to obviously get out and trip and it's paid off.
"When I sort of saw him back three-wide, I thought, "you know, you've got to ride this horse ugly to be able to produce him", and it worked out."
When asked about going on to other Derby's, White said: "We possibly will. We'll see how he comes back through this and we'll make a plan after that."
Despite drawing wide today, Eoin Walsh was able to slot the $3.30 elect into a midfield position one off the fence with a lap to run of the Hobart circuit.
The Irishman moved into the three-wide line and began to build the gelding's momentum through the middle stages of the race, looming ominously on the home turn.
His strength shone through late, taking the lead and getting away from his rivals to score by three quarters of a length.
Walsh was very happy with how the race panned out in the opening stages.
"I was pretty confident going into the first bend, I thought "geez, we're going to go a good one as long as they don't steady them up," he said.
"But no, a lovely genuine tempo and my lad was the best stayer in the race today.
"I was just following him on one I got stuck behind last day as well, and that's why I popped out three wide, just to get my lad going, because I could see my native friend John Allen (Colizzi) was travelling well down the inside.
"I just wanted to get him in a pocket, but my horse is still just racing a little lazy still."
Dad And Dave beat home the David and Coral Feek-trained Colizzi ($8) with Patrick and Michelle Payne's Helioson ($12) a further half-length behind.
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