Jumal cruises to dominant Northern Derby win

By Michael Guerin

His superstar three-year-old Jumal might be in a hurry every time he heads to the races but Steven Reid doesn’t need to be.

So the man behind the machine is going to play the patient game with the colt who turned the $200,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby into a procession at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The red hot favourite won easily for new driver Blair Orange after leading in an early rush before getting things mostly his way after.

That was enough to see him cruise home in 56 seconds for his last 800m, the 400m in 27.4 to beat Allamericanplayer and Special Occasion in yet another Derby dominated by the markers runners.

Reid was as relieved as he was satisfied to win the classic he had landed with Monkey King 21 years ago.

“After he got beaten last start the pressure always goes up a bit so it is great to get the win and get him home in one piece,” he says.

The Derby also comes with a bonus in that the son of Downbytheseaside is now automatically qualified for the $200,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on May 22.

“That means he doesn’t have to start in the semi final at Addington on the May 15 but I might any way,” explains Reid.

“It is $50,000 and he didn’t have a particularly hard run tonight and it might be a good blowout before the final.”

Then Reid will sit down and decide what Jumal’s winter looks like, whether that is with Queensland sun on his back or a cover on his back in the spelling paddock. 

“There is an option to go to the Rising Sun and then the Queensland Derby but I am not making any decisions about that, or anything else, until after the Sires’ Stakes Final,” says Reid.

“There are pros and cons to both. There aren’t a lot of races him here until later in the year but there is also no hurry.”

Reid also has the words of warning for a good friend and world class horseman ringing in his ears.

“He told me I don’t need to rush and stuff him trying to win every thing this year,” he admitted.

It is hard to imagine most of those who finished behind Jumal on Friday beating him in the three-year-old male pacing races that remain this season, all things being equal, and then maybe next season Jumal can join the new crop of exceptional young Kiwi talents in the open class pacing ranks.