Stable plotting Derby coup with maiden

Splendido’s connections have designs on making the three-year-old O’Reilly gelding’s first victory a memorable one.

He has yet to break his duck in seven starts this season, but he is a stakes performer and will be making his second appearance at the elite level when he takes his place in the BMW New Zealand Derby on Saturday week.

“He’s perfect, right on target,” said trainer Bruce Wallace’s foreman Allan Peard.

Runner-up in the Listed BMW Salver, Splendido was then sixth when beaten four lengths by Kawi in the Zabeel Classic and he has finished runner-up at his last two outings.

“He was three wide the whole trip without cover last Saturday and only just got run down and his worst performance was in the Group One,” Peard said.

Currently a $31 hope in the Derby market, Splendido is raced by Wallace with Mark Wyborn, who is also a part-owner of the $8 chance Provocative.

– NZ Racing Desk.

Recent News
12 November 2026

Noverre’s Withallmywish Too Classy At Te Aroha

Having just her second start off the back of a debut third, the Ms V Tang bred and raced 3yo Noverre filly Withallmywish produced a professional display over 1150m at Te Aroha on Thursday to break her maiden in fine style.

Read More
7 November 2026

Waikato winning double on Flemington’s finale, Stakes Day

While the VRC celebrated its biggest Melbourne Cup Carnival crowd since 2017, Waikato Stud had its own reason to cheer in Matamata, as the Chittick family’s Superfabulistic and Sun Gift delivered a double, the latter claiming the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes.

Read More