Docker Pav back on track after missing South Australian Derby
CONNECTIONS of Docker Pav had every right to be disappointed after it was late scratched for the Group 1 South Australian Derby, but it has since produced an encouraging effort and signs are positive of a big effort this Saturday at Flemington.
The three-year-old gelding by Shrewd Rhythm ran fourth in the Port Adelaide Cup behind the likes of Time To Test and High Church last month – a run which would take it close in many Saturday-graded races.
Trainer Nick Smart had the Derby in mind since the gelding was broken in, but believes Docker Pav has one more good run left in it this campaign as it prepares for the Super VOBIS R78 Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
“That was disappointing missing the Derby after being scratched at the gates,” Smart said. “But he’s going to make into a nice horse and this will most likely be his last run of the preparation.
“I wouldn’t say it was his grand final, but that was his race we aimed for since we broke him in, he struck me as a Derby horse.
“It was disappointing as he showed the week after he would have been competitive, but there’s still plenty of petrol left in the tank for Saturday.”
Smart said Docker Pav has come through the May 20 run at Morphettville well, but would have liked to have seen it ridden off the speed on that occasion.
“He’s come through it well, it was a very good run,” Smart said. “He probably jumped a little better than we expected, raced a bit closer than we generally like to have him.
“He just wanted to overdo it a bit mid-race and that probably took a bit of polish off his finish.”
Docker Pav scored consecutive wins earlier this season at Balaklava when ridden off the pace and those tactics will likely be adopted this Saturday.
“Both his first two wins we’ve settled him out the back, he relaxes lovely out the back,” Smart said. “We’ll drop him out the back on ride him accordingly (on Saturday).
“There’s plenty of room at Flemington up that long straight to make a run from the back.
“If they do go a bit slow, Andrew Mallyon, who’s riding him, can work into the race a little earlier. I think he’ll suit him – the horse does have a tendency to lay in and Andrew, being a natural left-hander with the whip would negate that well.”
Spring features are probably a season away for the three-year-old stayer, but Smart will likely set his runner for the lower-graded races during the Melbourne spring carnival this year.
“Hopefully we’ll get him back for the spring – the second tier races should suit him,” Smart said. “Being such an immature horse it’s tough for those four-year-olds when they step up into open company.
“I don’t think this will be the year when he competes in any of those good races, but we could pick up some second tier races. We’ll try find some suitable races when we got over there.”