Stable plotting Derby coup with maiden

23 February 2016

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.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It’s been a couple of months since I shared my thoughts with the two of you. The way our industry is currently reacting to the apparent issues, there has been plenty of subject matter to brush over.

13 April 2026

OP’s Oceana Dream makes winning Australian debut

More than a year after his most recent raceday appearance in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Oceana Dream kicked off his Australian career on a winning note in the A$130,000 Ern Jensen Funerals – …