Demonetization wins Group 2 Auckland Guineas
The Pukekohe trainer had earlier produced Melt to claim the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and her older barn mate completed a stakes double when he triumphed under jockey Jason Waddell in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1600m).
“The further they go the better he’ll be,” Tiley said. “I’m looking forward to the autumn.”
Demonetization has the Group 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) as his grand final, but Tiley has yet to lock in the All Too Hard three-year-old’s path to the March feature.
“I have to choose whether we go to Wellington or not, that would give a nice break to the Avondale Guineas and then the Derby,” Tiley said.
The Trentham option is the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) on January 13.
Demonetization won his first two starts before the $220,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate finished third in last month’s Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m). He raced off the pace on that occasion and was unsuited when it developed into a sit and sprint contest.
“Jason and I had a talk and we decided to change our tactics today so he went forward,” Tiley said.
In a race run in driving rain on a Slow 7 track, Demonetization was in front 400m from home and he held a strong gallop to have a length and a-quarter on Endowment at the line with On The Rocks taking third money.
“He has won on a wet track before, it’s not ideal but he’s pretty adaptable,” Tiley said.
Demonetization is now at $9 in the New Zealand Derby market behind the $8 favourite Age Of Fire.