New Zealand Derby betting, form and free tips, Saturday March 4

New Zealand Derby

THE New Zealand Derby is one of the most prestigious thoroughbred races on the New Zealand calendar and it runs this Saturday at Ellerslie.

The 2400m feature is worth $1 million and the title of New Zealand’s best staying three-year-old. A field of 18 is set to take place and the quality is evident.

With the likes of J.J. Atkins winner Sacred Elixir and rising star Saville Row, the Derby promises to be a hotly-contested race and we have form, odds and free tips for the big race.

The best bookmaker to bet on the New Zealand with is CrownBet.com.au, which currently has a full market available.

Crownbet.com.au

2017 New Zealand Derby betting market

[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1130245_09]

Most of the money has come for Saville Row which has been tipped as a Derby contender throughout the season.

The three-year-old colt has been beaten at its last two starts, but looks a strong runner over the longer distance and co-trainer Michael Moroney will be confident going into the event.

“He should run well in the Derby,” Moroney said. “You would think he would have to be well off his game not to be in the finish.”

Sacred Elixir is drifting in the market after a couple of poor efforts in New Zealand. The multiple winner in Australia, including the Group 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm, has struggled in two starts at Ellerslie and punters aren’t keen.

It’s currently on the second line of betting, but there isn’t much confidence with the Tony Pike-trained runner.

2017 NZ Derby betting tips

Top pick: Saville Row is a son of Makfi which finished second behind top quality runner Volkstok’n’barrell at Te Rapa last start.

That run suggested that it could compete on the weight-for-age scale and racing against its own age will hold it in good stead. It has been working nicely towards this distance and although some runners simply can’t handle the step up to 2400m, Saville Row looks a natural stayer.

Michael Moroney knows how to train a staying three-year-old and the $3.60 on offer at CrownBet.com.au is a good price considering its form leading into the feature.

Next best: Camino Rocoso didn’t fire last start at Ellerslie, but the wet track didn’t suit and its form prior was strong.

The Baker/Forsman-trained gelding won its two prior starts on this track and it did so in good fashion. The gelding by Shocking won by 2.3 lengths to score its maiden win and that was followed up with a narrow win over race-rival Charles Road.

The form out of that race is strong and the in-form Jason Waddell is in the saddle. Its current price is good value and we think on a dry track that it could rebound back to its very best.

Long shot chance: Wyndspelle is a winner of only two from 12, but it has placed twice on this track and it’s coming off a solid win at Te Rapa.

The Iffraj colt has been carrying plenty of support throughout its campaign, but it hasn’t been having the best of luck. In most of its efforts it has been running on stylishly and the extra distance should be ideal.

Jockey Danielle Johnson has her work cut out for her from barrier 15, but that won’t mean much over the staying distance and punters should think about taking the $14 on offer at Sportsbet.com.au.

Wild card: Cha Siu Bao is a Smart Missile three-year-old which battled on well last time out. The O’Sullivan/Scott-trained runner has been around the mark all season and which included close-up performances behind Ugo Foscolo and Wyndspelle.

Punters would have liked to have seen more last time out when sixth at Ellerslie, but it’s an enigmatic type and it only needs to be firing on all cylinders to feature here at a big price of $26.

NZ Derby predicted finishing order

1. Savile Row
2. Camino Rocoso
3. Wyndspelle
4. Cha Siu Bao
5. Sacred Elixir
6. Jon Snow
7. Mongolian Wolf
8. Highlad
9. Rising Red
10. Lincoln Blue
11. Excalibur
12. Stephenstihls
13. Charles Road
14. Leading Role
15. Gingernuts
16. Mongolian Legend
17. Redeem The Dream
18. Beaumarchais

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