2011 New Zealand Derby
Encyclopedia
The 2011 New Zealand Derby was a horse race
which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse
on Saturday 5 March 2011. It was the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby
, and it was won by Jimmy Choux
.
The lead-up to the race was dominated by Jimmy Choux, with the Hawke's Bay colt seeking to become the first horse in more than 20 years to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas
and the Derby.
Unlike some years, there was no doubt over who was the best horse in the 2011 New Zealand Derby field. Jimmy Choux had an extraordinary 2010-11 season, winning the Hawke's Bay Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Great Northern Guineas, Wellington Stakes and Waikato Guineas to secure hot Derby favouritism. His only defeats were when he was beaten by a nose by Fiddler in the Wanganui Guineas on a very heavy track in his first start of the season, and in the Levin Classic, where he was eased out to finish a long last due to cardiac arrhythmia.
But while there were no arguments over his class, many doubted whether Jimmy Choux could sustain that brilliance and clear superiority over 2400m. His pedigree certainly suggested he would be restricted to races over no more than a mile.
Those doubts were proven unfounded in the most spectacular manner. Jimmy Choux was well back early in the race, then made a sudden and early move on the point of the home turn. He briefly looked vulnerable early in the run home, having already used up his customary turn of foot. Placegetters Historian and On The Level appeared to be rapidly gaining on the favourite. But Jimmy Choux was able to kick again inside the final 100m, drawing away to a comfortable two-length win.
:
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
which took place at Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
on Saturday 5 March 2011. It was the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
, and it was won by Jimmy Choux
Jimmy Choux
Jimmy Choux is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise in 1990 to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the New Zealand Derby....
.
The lead-up to the race was dominated by Jimmy Choux, with the Hawke's Bay colt seeking to become the first horse in more than 20 years to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas
New Zealand 2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
and the Derby.
Unlike some years, there was no doubt over who was the best horse in the 2011 New Zealand Derby field. Jimmy Choux had an extraordinary 2010-11 season, winning the Hawke's Bay Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Great Northern Guineas, Wellington Stakes and Waikato Guineas to secure hot Derby favouritism. His only defeats were when he was beaten by a nose by Fiddler in the Wanganui Guineas on a very heavy track in his first start of the season, and in the Levin Classic, where he was eased out to finish a long last due to cardiac arrhythmia.
But while there were no arguments over his class, many doubted whether Jimmy Choux could sustain that brilliance and clear superiority over 2400m. His pedigree certainly suggested he would be restricted to races over no more than a mile.
Those doubts were proven unfounded in the most spectacular manner. Jimmy Choux was well back early in the race, then made a sudden and early move on the point of the home turn. He briefly looked vulnerable early in the run home, having already used up his customary turn of foot. Placegetters Historian and On The Level appeared to be rapidly gaining on the favourite. But Jimmy Choux was able to kick again inside the final 100m, drawing away to a comfortable two-length win.
Race details
- Sponsor: TelecomTelecom New ZealandTelecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
- Prize money: NZ$2.2 million
- Track: Heavy
- Number of runners: 16
- Winner's time: 2:38.35
Full result
| Margin | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds | |
| 1 | Jimmy Choux Jimmy Choux Jimmy Choux is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise in 1990 to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the New Zealand Derby.... |
Jonathan Riddell | John Bary | $2.30 | |
| 2 | 2 | Historian | Chad Ormsby | Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue | $36.20 |
| 3 | 1¾ | On The Level | Michael Coleman | Murray & Bjorn Baker | $22.80 |
| 4 | 4¼ | Yin Yang Master | Mark Du Plessis | John Sargent | $39.60 |
| 5 | 1½ | Sierra Nevada | Jim Byrne | Richard & Chris Otto | $18.30 |
| 6 | ¾ | O'Reilly's Prize | Hayden Tinsley | David Haworth & Matt Dixon | $8.20 |
| 7 | 2½ | Yourein | Lisa Allpress | John Sargent | $63.00 |
| 8 | 3¾ | Between The Beats | Noel Harris | Jeff Lynds | $52.50 |
| 9 | 1 | He's Remarkable | Matthew Cameron | Roger James | $8.80 |
| 10 | 3 | Raffles Knight | Leith Innes | Stephen McKee | $40.20 |
| 11 | 3½ | Wisecrack | Douglas Whyte | Ken & Bev Kelso | $23.50 |
| 12 | 4 | Jetset Lad | Scott Galloway | John Wheeler | $19.60 |
| 13 | 8 | Hidden Asset | Vinnie Colgan | Shaune Ritchie | $34.30 |
| 14 | 5 | Icepin | Sam Spratt | Jason Bridgman | $14.00 |
| 15 | ½ | Encosta Diablo | Opie Bosson | Jason Bridgman | $14.10 |
| 16 | 11 | Nippin | Shane Scriven | Allan Sharrock | $24.40 |
Winner's details
Further details of the winner, Jimmy ChouxJimmy Choux
Jimmy Choux is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 135th running of the New Zealand Derby. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise in 1990 to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the New Zealand Derby....
:
- Foaled: 10 October 2007 in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
- Sire: Thorn Park; Dam: Cierzo (Centaine)
- Owner: Chouxmaani Investments Ltd
- Trainer: John Bary
- Breeder: Chouxmaani Investments Ltd
- Starts: 16
- Wins: 9
- Seconds: 3
- Thirds: 2
- Earnings: $2,221,550
The road to the Derby
Early-season appearances in 2010-11 prior to running in the Derby.- Jimmy Choux – 2nd Wanganui Guineas, 1st Hawke's Bay Guineas, 1st New Zealand 2000 GuineasNew Zealand 2000 GuineasThe 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
, 15th Levin Classic, 1st Great Northern Guineas, 1st Wellington Stakes, 1st Waikato Guineas - Historian – 3rd Waikato Guineas, 4th Avondale Guineas
- On The Level – 4th Waikato Guineas, 2nd Avondale Guineas
- Yin Yang Master – 3rd Great Northern Guineas, 2nd Waikato Guineas, 8th Avondale Guineas
- Sierra Nevada – 3rd Avondale Guineas
- O'Reilly's Prize – 5th Avondale Guineas
- Yourein – 3rd Championship StakesChampionship StakesThe Championship Stakes, run at Ellerslie Racecourse, is a Group 2 three-year-old race run at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.When the New Zealand Derby was moved from December to March in the 2005-06 season, the race was set up to be run on the second Saturday in February as the...
, 6th Karaka Mile, 13th Avondale Guineas - He's Remarkable – 6th Hawke's Bay Guineas, 2nd New Zealand 2000 GuineasNew Zealand 2000 GuineasThe 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
, 3rd Wellington Stakes, 10th Avondale Guineas - Raffles Knight – 6th-equal Avondale Guineas
- Jetset Lad – 2nd Wellington Stakes, 6th-equal Avondale Guineas
- Hidden Asset – 1st Championship StakesChampionship StakesThe Championship Stakes, run at Ellerslie Racecourse, is a Group 2 three-year-old race run at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.When the New Zealand Derby was moved from December to March in the 2005-06 season, the race was set up to be run on the second Saturday in February as the...
, 6th Waikato Guineas, 14th Avondale Guineas - Icepin - 2nd Hawke's Bay Guineas, 3rd Canterbury Stakes, 10th New Zealand 2000 GuineasNew Zealand 2000 GuineasThe 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
, 2nd Great Northern Guineas, 2nd Karaka Mile, 1st Avondale Guineas - Encosta Diablo - 4th Ray Coupland Stakes, 5th New Zealand 2000 GuineasNew Zealand 2000 GuineasThe 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
, 5th Karaka Mile, 9th Avondale Guineas
Subsequent Group 1 wins
Subsequent wins at Group 1 level by runners in the 2011 New Zealand Derby.- Jimmy Choux - Rosehill GuineasRosehill GuineasThe Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:...
, Windsor Park Plate, Spring Classic