The 2018 New Zealand Derby was a

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

which took place at

Ellerslie Racecourse Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand, for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit in the suburb of Ellerslie, with a circumference of just under 1,900 metres. Racing is conducted in a clockwi ...

on Saturday 3 March 2018. It was the 143rd running of the

New Zealand Derby The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day o ...

, and it was won by Vin De Dance. Vin De Dance was offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale as a two-year-old, but was passed in. A sale was later negotiated for $70,000, with breeder Luigi Muollo retaining a share alongside new owners OTI Racing and the Kilted Taniwha Syndicate. The son of Roc de Cambes was sent to the Cambridge stable of Hall of Famer

Murray Baker Murray Baker (born 21 April 1946) is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse trainer and former New Zealand cricketer. Cricket Baker played in one List A and seventeen first-class matches for Central Districts and Northern Districts from 1966 to ...

and his training partner Andrew Forsman. The team has won multiple New Zealand training premierships, and guided

Mongolian Khan Mongolian Khan (foaled 19 October 2011) is a retired Australian-bred New Zealand-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2015 he won the 140th running of the New Zealand Derby before going on to win the Australian Derby becoming the first horse to com ...

to victory in the

2015 New Zealand Derby The 2015 New Zealand Derby was a horse race which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 28 February 2015. It was the 140th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Mongolian Khan. The race was billed as a match race between the ...

. Vin De Dance made a winning debut at Pukekohe in early September, then was placed in two subsequent appearances at

Te Rapa Te Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large-scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of central Hamilton, New Zealand that is built on a flat area that was previously the bed of an ancient river, the forerunner to the present Waikato ...

. He was sent to Melbourne, where he finished third at Flemington and fifth in the

Moonee Valley Vase The Moonee Valley Vase is a registered Moonee Valley Racing Club Group races, Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under Set Weights conditions, for horses aged three-years-old, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse ...

. Withdrawn from the

Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbour ...

and given several months off to strengthen and develop, Vin De Dance returned with fourth and sixth placings over 1400 and 1600 metres in late January and early February. He moved into Derby contention with a fighting third in the

Avondale Guineas Avondale may refer to: Places Australia * Avondale, New South Wales, a village in New South Wales *Avondale, Parramatta, a heritage-listed former residence and now offices at 25 O'Connell Street, Parramatta, New South Wales * Avondale, Queen ...

. The fifth favourite for the Derby at $9.90, Vin De Dance was handy throughout the 2400-metre race and loomed as a major threat around the home turn. He hit the lead inside the last 200 metres, but was joined by Mongolianconqueror in a desperate two-horse battle to the finish that Vin De Dance won by a nose. OTI Racing's Terry Henderson described the New Zealand Derby win as the fulfilment of a long-held dream. It was the first Derby win for jockey Jason Waddell. Mongolianconqueror's trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards came up a mere nose short of winning the Derby two years in a row, having won the

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

running with Gingernuts.

Race details

* ''Sponsor:''

Vodafone New Zealand Vodafone New Zealand Limited is a New Zealand telecommunications company. It was a subsidiary of the London-listed company Vodafone Plc until 31 July 2019, when its sale to a consortium comprising Infratil Limited and Brookfield Asset Manageme ...

* ''Prize money:'' NZ$1,000,000 * ''Track:'' Good * ''Number of runners:'' 18 * ''Winner's time:'' 2:28.44

Full result

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Vin De Dance: * ''Foaled:'' 13 September 2014 * ''Sire:'' Roc de Cambes; ''Dam:'' Explosive Dancer (San Luis) * ''Owner:'' OTI Racing (Mgr: T Henderson), L Muollo & Kilted Taniwha Syndicate * ''Trainer:''

& Andrew Forsman * ''Breeder:'' Explosive Breeding Ltd (L Muollo) * ''Starts:'' 9 * ''Wins:'' 2 * ''Seconds:'' 2 * ''Thirds:'' 2 * ''Earnings:'' $639,969

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances in 2017-18 prior to running in the Derby.

* Vin De Dance – ''5th

, 3rd Avondale Guineas'' * Mongolianconqueror – ''2nd Waikato Guineas, 7th Avondale Guineas'' * Danzdanzdance – ''6th

Karaka Million The Karaka Million refers to two major New Zealand horse races for young horses - the original Karaka Million for two-year-old (2YO) horses and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic that started in 2018. Held at Ellerslie Racecourse, they are New Zeala ...

3YO Classic, 2nd Avondale Guineas'' * The Mayor – ''6th Avondale Guineas'' * Endowment – ''2nd Auckland Guineas, 8th Avondale Guineas'' * Mission Hill – ''5th Avondale Guineas'' * Civil Disobedience – ''1st Tasmanian Derby'' * On The Rocks – ''1st Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd Auckland Guineas, 8th

3YO Classic, 1st Avondale Guineas'' * Time Lord – ''3rd Waikato Guineas'' * Irish Flame – ''3rd El Roca Trophy, 7th

Hawke's Bay Guineas The Hawke's Bay Guineas is a major Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand for three-year-old horses. In 2003 the stake was boosted to $100,000 and the race was moved to the first Saturday in October, meaning that it is run on the same day as the S ...

, 8th Sarten Memorial, 7th

New Zealand 2000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas is a Group One set-weight Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 metres at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand cup week The New Zealand 2000 Guineas is hel ...

, 13th Avondale Guineas'' * Jimmy Rocket – ''12th Waikato Guineas'' * Secret Ambition – ''10th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd Auckland Salver, 17th

3YO Classic, 14th Avondale Guineas'' * Maktoum – ''7th

Levin Classic The Group One Levin Classic - formerly the Bayer Classic - is one of the premier races for three-year-old thoroughbreds in New Zealand. History The race, first run under the name Levin Turf Classic, was originally run at Levin Racecourse until t ...

, 5th Waikato Guineas'' * Tavlin – ''11th Waikato Guineas''

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2018 New Zealand Derby. * Danzdanzdance - 2018

Captain Cook Stakes The Captain Cook Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 1,600 metres (1 mile) at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand. Over the years the race has been won by great New Zealand racehorses suc ...

, 2018

Zabeel Classic The Zabeel Classic is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 2000 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on Boxing Day, a raceday steeped in tradition that frequently attracts in e ...

. * On The Rocks - 2019 Herbie Dyke Stakes.

References

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