Special Events

SPECIAL EVENTS

2011 Derby Winner

DECEMBRIST Derby Triumph

A Happy Team on the dais after the 2011 World 4 Pets Richmond Derby final

At Richmond on Saturday night the club conducted its flagship event of the year the Group Two World 4 Pets Richmond Derby.

Race favourite and new track record holder Loathsome ($1.90) assumed the lead not long after box rise, but in a major surprise, outsider Decembrist positioned much closer than usual, looking a major threat heading through the first turn.

Trained by leading Victorian mentor Bob Douglas, Decembrist ($40.30) came with his trademark finish down the centre of the track turning for home, claiming Derby glory by three and three quarters of a length in a slick 30.50.

Loathsome held onto second with promising youngster Fancy Dean filling ($9.00) third. Decembrist has been a great money spinner for Tasmanian connections Peter and June Phillips particular while in the care of Bob Douglas with his stake earnings nearing $100,000.

“He's just a great little chaser, once he got a position right behind the favourite he was going to be hard to beat. He is a strong 600 dog and he was always going to back up from the Tuesday” Douglas said.

Decembrist has recorded some handy performances, mixing it with the likes of El Grand Senor and Cosmic Chief in narrowly beaten seconds at the Meadows, he also made the 2010 Group 1 Hobart 1000.

Bob Douglas has a long association with the breed having trained Decembrist's dam World's Finest for the Phillips'. She won nine races in Victoria including six at Sandown and the Meadows winning over both the 500 and 600 metre distances.

Douglas will be back in Sydney for a crack at the Easter Egg a race he won with Carlisle Jack in 2002.

Decembrist is raced by Peter & June Phillips and trained by Bob Douglas at Heathcote in Victoria. He is a Black Dog whelped March 2008 by Big Daddy Cool from World's Finest (World Title x Foxy Fine) he has raced 59 times for 23 wins and 16 placings and with the $25,000 first prize for the Derby his overall stake earnings went to $92,245

In the other two features on Richmond's signature race night, favourite Adipra took out the Frank Kennedy Memorial (618m) in 35.64s while Loud Mouse won the Betfair Cup (717m) narrowly in 42.01s.