Lloyd puts Nom in lights
By Caryl Williamson
April 26, 2008 NEW Zealand raider Nom Du Jeu gave former South African champion jockey Jeff Lloyd his first Australian Group I win when he scored an upset in the AJC Australian Derby at Randwick.
The result represented a triumph for New Zealand, with Red Ruler finishing ¾ length second -with punters largely ignoring both Kiwis, who each started $26.
Victoria Derby runner-up Littorio ($4 fav) put in another gallant performance for third, two lengths behind Red Ruler, while Rosehill Guineas winner Dealer Principal was fourth.
Nom Du Jeu missed his lead-up run in the Rosehill Guineas due to an elevated temperature, but trainer Murray Baker was buoyed in the Derby lead-up by Lloyd's trackwork reports.
"Jeff has been riding him since he got here and he told me he was sure he could win the Derby," Baker said.
"He is an old-fashioned stayer. His sire, Montjeu, gets the same sort of horse in Europe and I'd like to think he is a cups horse in the spring."
The colt performed like an old-fashioned stayer, with Lloyd bringing him from last along the inside while other jockeys scouted wide on the heavy track at the end of the 2400 metres.
"I wasn't worried when he was so far back because I know he's got a big finish," Baker said.
"It was a great ride. He rode him cold, and we were both confident he would run the trip."
Nom de Jeu provided New Zealand with its first Group I success in Sydney since Honor Babe took out the 2003 Sydney Cup, and Baker sounded a warning for the spring.
"If the New Zealand Derby winner C'est La Guerre had been here, he would have distanced them," he said.
Nom Dy Jeu finished 7½ lengths fourth in the New Zealand Derby with Red Ruler eighth, almost nine lengths further away.
Nom Du Jeu is out of Prized Gem, whom Baker trained to win the 2002 Brisbane Cup as well as New Zealand's biggest race, the Kelt Capital Stakes.
Baker's compatriot John Sargent was thrilled with the performance of Red Ruler, who had struggled in the wet ground in the New Zealand Derby.
"That's fantastic to get a Kiwi quinella," Sargent said.
"It was a great run from my bloke. He would have preferred a better track.
"He might back up next Saturday in either the Queen Elizabeth or the Frank Packer Plate."
Littorio's trainer, Nigel Blackiston, said he would now look to the spring and the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.
"It was super effort," Blackiston said.
"He was just grinding a bit towards the finish, but he is a nice stayer in the making."
For Lloyd, who relocated to Australia late last year with more than 80 Group I wins worldwide to his credit, the Derby was something special.
"This is the best," Lloyd said.
"It's the Derby, it's my first in Australia and it's just a great feeling."
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