4 Mar 2023Almanzor’s son Andalus has earned a trip across the Tasman next month after nearly pulling off a massive 100-1 upset in the G1 New Zealand Derby at Te Rapa.
“Everyone knew they were going to struggle to beat Sharp ‘N’ Smart, but I certainly didn’t think he deserved to be the price he was,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“He got caught three-wide and covered a lot of ground coming into the straight so I thought his run was very brave.”
The gelding, who races in the colours of Elsdon Park's Lib and Katrina Petagna, will be rewarded with a tilt at the G1 Australian Derby at Randwick on April 1 and another potential meeting with Sharp ‘N’ Smart.
“It took a while for the penny to drop at three and it probably helped gelding him. This preparation has been good. He’s a natural staying horse and we’ve always thought a lot of him,” Marsh said.
“We’ve got a month into the Australian Derby and all going to plan that will be his next race.
“He will handle a little bit of sting out of the track, but he wouldn’t want heavy rain and he’d prefer a good track.”
Andalus was bred by Garry Chittick out of Savabeel mare Genius and was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $420,000 from the draft of Waikato Stud.