No Immediacy to be forward in the Australian Derby
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young won’t be making the same mistake twice when they head to the Australian Derby at Randwick.
Just as he did in the Rosehill Guineas at his most recent outing, Immediacy has drawn a wide alley.
For Saturday’s Group 1 Derby over 2400m, Immediacy has drawn gate 13 of the 14 starters and jockey Luke Currie will be instructed to ride the gelding cold to allow him to finish off.
In the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 23 when beaten for the first time in his four-start career, Immediacy jumped cleanly from barrier 11 and Currie elected to go forward, blunting the gelding’s finishing burst.
But Young liked the endeavour Immediacy showed in finishing fifth, beaten less than 1-½ lengths.
“I thought he was super,” Young said.
“In hindsight it would have been good to sit him out the back from that gate, but he jumped good and there was no early speed.
“Currie had to keep going with him otherwise he would have been trapped too wide.
“He was a little bit a victim of circumstances, but for him to do that and be more forward, it took his turn of foot away, but at least he stuck on.
“We’ll definitely ride him a little bit quieter and let him finish off and on what he showed us the other day he’s got the quality.”
Immediacy won his first three starts, progressing from a debut maiden win at Cranbourne in December to winning at Group 2 level at the end of February.
He then went four weeks between that Group 2 win at Caulfield to contesting the Rosehill Guineas and Saturday will be the first time he has backed up two weeks after his most recent start.
That is no concern for Young who said Immediacy looked in great condition.
“He doesn’t hold a lot of condition and he was dappled from head-to-toe last time,” Young said.
“From a physical point of view, we couldn’t have him looking any better. He still looks good, he’s still got that gloss in his coat.
“And we now know how to ride him now.
“It’s better to stuff that one up (Rosehill Guineas) than in the Derby on Saturday.”
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