The 2021 New Zealand Derby was a

Group I Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

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 on Sunday 7 March 2021. It was the 146th 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

Rocket Spade Rocket Spade (foaled 21 October 2017) is an Australian-bred racehorse who is owned and trained in New Zealand. In 2021 he won the 146th running of the New Zealand Derby. Background Rocket Spade was bred by Sun Kingdom in Australia and sold thr ...

. Because of restrictions around public gatherings following an outbreak of

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Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

, the race was run a day later than its original date and with a limited audience of owners and Auckland Racing Club members. Rocket Spade became the second consecutive son of champion sire Fastnet Rock to win the Derby, following on from

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2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

. Bred by Sun Kingdom, Rocket Spade was sold for A$425,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. He is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, and trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata. O'Sullivan was a two-time Derby winner as a jockey but had never previously won the race as a trainer, while Scott saddled Cut the Cake and

Xcellent Xcellent (foaled 29 November 2001 in New Zealand) is a thoroughbred racehorse who was trained by Michael & Paul Moroney. He won 6 races from his first 9 career starts, including four Group Ones - The New Zealand Derby and New Zealand Stakes at ...

to win back-to-back runnings of the Derby in the early 2000s. Rocket Spade had shown promise in the spring but had been slightly off the very best three-year-olds, finishing fourth in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial and fifth in the

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 ...

. But he returned as a different horse in the new year, rising to Derby favouritism with strong victories in the Auckland Guineas and Avondale Guineas. The Derby was run at a muddling speed, with several horses taking turns in the lead. The pace went right out of the race as they came down the side of the course, and the field bunched right up with less than six lengths covering the 14 runners. Rocket Spade had dropped back to last, but jockey Craig Grylls was happy to bide his time and stick to the inside part of the track. A gap opened at the top of the straight and Rocket Spade made his move. Grylls drove him through that opening and he quickly surged into contention, with Milford and Frontman joining him in a three-way battle to the finish. Rocket Spade fought off those two rivals, reaching the line a short neck in front of Milford. Frontman finished another short head behind in third. Rocket Spade made amends for Hermitage and the O'Sullivan/Scott team, who had finished fourth a year earlier with the Derby favourite Dragon Leap. The race time, 2:35.51, was the second slowest time recorded in Derby history.

Race details

* ''Sponsor:'' Vodafone New Zealand * ''Prize money:'' NZ$1,000,000 * ''Track:'' Slow * ''Number of runners:'' 14 * ''Winner's time:'' 2:35.51

Full result

Winner's details

Further details of the winner,

: * ''Foaled:'' 21 October 2017 * ''Sire:'' Fastnet Rock; ''Dam:'' Affairoftheheart (Fusaichi Pegasus) * ''Owner:'' Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd * ''Trainer:'' Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott * ''Breeder:'' Sun Kingdom * ''Starts:'' 8 * ''Wins:'' 4 * ''Seconds:'' 2 * ''Thirds:'' 0 * ''Earnings:'' $745,450

The road to the Derby

Early-season appearances prior to running in the 2021 Derby. * Rocket Spade – 4th Sarten Memorial, 5th

, 1st Auckland Guineas, 1st Avondale Guineas * Milford - 7th Bonecrusher Stakes, 1st Gingernuts Salver, 5th Avondale Guineas * Frontman - 9th

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 ...

* Il Affare - 6th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd Royal Stakes, 4th David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic, 6th Avondale Guineas * Iffie Shows - 5th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 11th Waikato Guineas * Montre Moi - 11th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 3rd Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 4th Waikato Guineas * Tokorangi - 4th Gold Trail Stakes, 3rd Soliloquy Stakes, 5th New Zealand 1000 Guineas, 5th Uncle Remus Stakes, 4th

, 1st Waikato Guineas * Jason Belltree - 2nd Bonecrusher Stakes, 2nd Auckland Guineas, 2nd Avondale Guineas * Lord Ardmore - 4th

, 7th Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 4th Avondale Guineas * Tribute King - 7th Avondale Guineas * Grip - 8th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 9th Avondale Guineas * Tannahill - 4th Wanganui Guineas, 12th Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 5th Waikato Guineas * Perfect Scenario - 4th Bonecrusher Stakes, 5th Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 3rd Waikato Guineas * Edge Of Wonder - 7th Sarten Memorial, 4th Trevor Eagle Memorial, 7th Auckland Guineas, 3rd Gingernuts Salver, 16th Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 8th Avondale Guineas

Subsequent Group 1 wins

Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2021 New Zealand Derby.

References

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