16 Feb 2009 -
Hong Kong owner Derek Wong received a great return on new purchase Down The Road with the win by the bombproof three-year-old in Saturday's $100,000 Telecom Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie.
Wong bought the Danroad gelding after his fifth placing in the Avondale Guineas in December for an undisclosed sum in a deal put together by Taupo bloodstock agent Paul Beamish.
Subsequent to the sale, Down The Road finished second in the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and then fifth in the three-year-old event at Ellerslie on January 25.
Wong has yet to see his latest racehorse acquisition in action but will be on-course to see him line up in the $2.2 million Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in a fortnight's time. Down The Road is trained at Matamata by Ken Kelso and former jockey Thomas Russell. "We were fortunate in that after he was sold to Mr Wong that the horse remained in New Zealand with a view to being set for the Derby," said Kelso.
"He's been going very good races all along and the rain-affected track conditions today were ideal for him," Kelso said. Despite some good form Down The Road was still at odds of better than 7 to one in yesterday's Group 2 event. Kelso said the task at hand is now to keep Down The Road in peak condition for the Derby. "He has kept improving with every run he's had this season. He's mature for his age and does everything right."
Kelso was full of praise for the ride of experienced jockey Michael Coleman. "Michael got him settled quickly and put him to sleep on the fence. It was a gem of a ride," Kelso said. "Let's hope we can get exactly the same run from an inside alley in the Derby."
Kelso said Down The Road's pedigree suggested the 2400m Derby distance is within his capabilities. "He's from the family of Eva Grace and Deebee Belle and his dam won over 2200m." The last Derby runner for Kelso was about 25 years ago when he lined up General Fripon who was unplaced.
There was also very encouraging Derby trials from runner-up The Meista and Australian visitor Consiton Bluebird who finished third.
Down The Road is a major liability for the Derby for the New Zealand TAB. He was backed for $4000 at the lucrative odds of $21 and his odds have fallen signficantly since.
