HELD over the unconventional classic distance of 2,100 metres, Saturday’s Avondale Guineas has brought the New Zealand Derby into sharp focus with five of the first six across the line at the top of the betting for the Group 1 feature.

Top pick for the Derby is the Tony Pike-trained Stryker gelding Rangipo, who won Satuday’s Group 2 at Ellerslie having had the run of the race two back on the fence as his stable-mate, the Showcasing colt Raghu, made the running and was good enough to hold third in a dead-heat with the Street Sense gelding Get That Jive. Splitting first and third was the Buffalo Man colt Brighton, who went down by a nose. Finishing on their heels was Get That Jive as a third Tony Pike runner Provocative, alongside The Hassler, ran-on hard from the tail of the field. They all head to Ellerslie for the New Zealand Derby on March 5th.

“He’s an amazing horse as he’s been in work a long time and he just keeps turning up,” said Pike of Rangipo. “He’ll be back in a fortnight and then he can have a well-earned break. Raghu had to work hard from a wide gate and he just needs a good draw for the Derby. Provocative (a Zabeel filly) got a long way back and she will appreciate the 2,400 metres of the Derby. She’ll be better for the experience and she should go very well.”