Darley will be double-handed in the G1 Kentucky Derby with its Victorian based stallions Street Boss and Hard Spun.

Street Boss colt Danza won the G1 Arkansas Derby (1800m) by four lengths on Saturday and trainer Todd Pletcher was confident of a forward display despite the long price.  “We also had the option of starting in the Blue Grass at Keeneland but took a shot here,” Pletcher explained.  “This was on dirt and that was the tie-breaker.

“I liked the way he was training and he was fresh with just one other start this year at Gulfstream Park.  But I don’t ever remember winning a Grade 1 at 40-1.”

Danza (3c Street Boss – Champagne Royale by French Deputy) was bred in Kentucky and cost Eclipse Thoroughbreds $105,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Sale.  He won at Belmont Park on debut in July and was then Group 1 placed in the Saratoga Special in August at his only other start as a juvenile.

Street Boss (USA) is a Group 1 winning son of Street Cry and his first Group 1 winner arrived at last year’s Saratoga meet when Capo Bastone claimed the King’s Bishop Stakes.

His first Australian runners are three year-olds and there have been just 8 individual winners so far this season.  The best of them has been The Quarterback who was G3 placed at Caulfield and Flemington in February.

Street Boss stood at Darley’s Northwood Lodge base in Seymour for an $11,000 (inc gst) service fee last year.

Danza booked his ticket to the Kentucky Derby a week after Hard Spun colt Wicked Strong won the G1 Wood Memorial (1800m) at Aqueduct.

Wicked Strong (3c Hard Spun – Moyne Abbey by Charismatic) cost $375,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale and he will stay in New York before flying to Kentucky a week before the Run for the Roses on May 3.

Hard Spun (Danzig) was runner-up to Street Sense in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and he stood at Northwood Park for a $16,500 (inc gst) fee last year.

He sired a second Group 1 winner in as many weeks on Saturday when grey mare Hard Not To Like was successful in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (1700m) at Keeneland.

DANZA