Darren Weir to send Civil Disobedience to contest NZ Derby
The New Zealand-bred son of Raise The Flag has been in grand form for leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir, who is keen on a crack at the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with the colt.
“We’re hoping to get him over there, we’re just having a bit of trouble with the flights,” said Jeremy Rogers, who has been Weir’s racing manager since 2010 following a stint at Waikato Stud.
Civil Disobedience has proved his staying qualities with a runaway last-start victory in the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m), the fourth win of his 10-start career.
“He’s a really promising horse and we want to get him to Ellerslie,” Rogers said.
Civil Disobedience is currently rated a $14 chance in the Derby market. “If we get over we’ll probably bring a jockey from here,” Rogers said. “John Allen usually rides him, but it’s Australian Guineas day and we’ll have Cliff’s Edge in that.”
Civil Disobedience was purchased by Weir and Queensland-based bloodstock agent John Foote, a regular yearling buyer in New Zealand, out of White Robe Lodge’s 2016 South Island Sale draft for $32,500.
From the family of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Baghdad Note, he is a younger half- brother to Accreditation, a son of Gallant Guru who has won three times for Weir.
While the stable remains positive on a Derby start for Civil Disobedience, his stablemate Ormito is unlikely to come over for the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m).
“I don’t think he’ll be making the trip,” Rogers said.
The German-bred stayer broke his maiden in England, where he was also Group placed, and while he has yet to add to his winning tally in Australia he was a last-start third in the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley.