Warmonger demolishes rivals in Queensland Derby
Warmonger has raced to one of the easiest wins in a Group 1 contest when taking out the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr -trained gelding registered a 10-½ length victory in the 2400m contest for three-year-olds on Saturday.
Warmonger’s winning margin eclipsed the 6-½ length romp of Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.
Jumping from the extreme outside barrier under Blake Shinn, Warmonger ($10) raced away from Moonlight Magic ($26) with Felix The Scat ($61) a further 2-¾ lengths away third.
It was a gutsy ride from Shinn to push forward on the gelding who was trapped three wide for the entire journey.
Shinn conceded the way the track was racing on Saturday with winners getting away from the fence, the barrier had played into his hands.
“The inside is really cutting up,” Shinn said.
“The barrier played into our hands. I was happy being wide as he was in fresh ground, and he just enjoyed it.
“It was a bit of a track gallop for him. He had his ears pricked down the back.
“He could see Navy King up in front and when I asked him to extend from the 500 (metre mark), he just kept building.
“He’s been putting up some great displays in running second and it was really well deserved.”
Warmonger had strung three consecutive placings together in Adelaide, including the Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville on May 4.
The gelding was flown to Brisbane from his Cranbourne stable last week and Price said Warmonger had settled in well.
“The horse took the travel well to Queensland, but the query was getting through the wet track,” Price said.
“Blake said it was more like a heavy than a soft.
“During the race I’m thinking, ‘what are you thinking here Blake’, but he just made all the right calls, by putting him into the race.
“When that leader got away you had to be near the pace and in the end it was just a huge staying performance by the horse.
“He obviously handled the ground very well. He’s a kiwi so he was born in it, but he clearly relished the stamina test today.”
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