By Brad KingsburyCRANBOURNE horsemen had a major hand in five of the 10 races decided on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.
Experienced Cranbourne jockey Peter Mertens led the district’s success with two perfectly timed rides to land a huge double highlighted by victory in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes on Bart Cummings’ stayer Sirmione.
He then completed the day with a last-gasp win in the Group 3 Ellerston Capital Stakes for leading Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths.
Cranbourne born and bred jockey Craig Williams added another feature race to his long list of achievements by piloting Kibbutz to win the $1.5 million Victoria Derby, while victories to trainers Pat Hyland and Rod Douglas in support events rounded off a day that had local thoroughbred racing supporters toasting their stars.
A crowd of 115,000-plus packed the newly renovated racecourse to witness the cream of the nation’s horseflesh compete for a total of almost $5 million in prizemoney on the best race day on the Victorian calendar.
Mertens, who rated the Mackinnon win his biggest and best ever, picked up the Sirmione ride after Cummings contacted him last week.
“It was my biggest win. The Adelaide Cup was big and so was the Futurity Stakes and I also won a Saab Quality a while back’” he said.
“The Mackinnon Stakes (win) is a big result. I was just hoping for a good performance and for him to run home and into the Melbourne Cup, but as soon as he got some clean air after straightening he just lifted and I knew the race was mine.”
Mertens was just as thrilled after his race 10 victory for Griffiths on Count To Zero.
“I’ve done a lot of riding for Robbie over the years and had a lot of luck,” he said.
“The horse really gave me everything he had so it was a great win. It finished the day off really well for us.”
His manager of three years Warren Huntley agreed.
“I was so pleased for Pete. To see him win a really serious Group 1 on Derby Day and then finish it off to win a Group 3 race for his good mate Griffo, well it was just magnificent.”
Hyland’s talented three-year-old filly shot into Oaks calculations with a grinding performance to win the $300,000 Group 2 Wakeful Stakes and the veteran trainer said he thought his charge would be suited to the longer trip.
“I won the Oaks with Saleous a couple of years ago and I think this filly will stay a bit better than her,” he said.
“I thought she toughed it out really well. She appears she’s going to stay fairly well and we’re looking forward to Thursday.”
Williams produced a trademark performance to steer Kibbutz home for the David Hayes stable and celebrity owner Simon O’Donnell, while Douglas handy three-year-old prospect Zacroona was too good for its rivals in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes.
