Tavago in ATC Australian Derby boilover
New Zealand three-year-old Tavago has produced a Group One shock in winning the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick.
Leaving the odds-on favourite Tarzino in his wake, Tavago ($31) romped away to score one of the most emphatic modern-day wins in the time-honoured Classic.
In a moderately run Derby, Tommy Berry had Tavago racing in the box-seat before he railed through to join the leaders at the 600m.
Tavago soon gained the ascendancy over Jameka ($9.50) and strode well clear to beat the only filly in the field.
Godolphin-trained Tally ($8) raced wide for the journey before taking the minor placing.
“One of my best thrills in racing was winning the Hong Kong Derby on Designs In Rome but to do it here in my home land in Australia, god it’s brilliant,” Berry said.
Tavago is prepared by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, a training partnership on the verge of shifting their stable to Melbourne.
“We’ve got the Queensland Derby in the back of our mind but we will definitely give him a couple of weeks (off) and see how he pulls up and comes through it,” Young said.