Champion Kiwi colt Jimmy Choux dispelled any doubts about his ability to run out a strong 2400 metres in the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Jimmy Choux (NZ) defied running down in the straight for a convincing victory in the $2 million event from Historian (Choisir) and On The Level (Align).

Despite the dominance of the win, trainer John Bary indicated Jimmy Choux would be set for the G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) instead of the G1 AJC Derby (2400m) in April.  “His class and fitness helped him get the distance,” Bary said.  “I don’t think you will see him race over 2400m again.”

Jimmy Choux (3c Thorn Park – Cierzo by Centaine)  started a short-priced favourite in the NZ Derby and it improved his record to 6 wins from 8 starts this season.

He was beaten a nose first-up in the LR Wanganui Guineas in September and then reeled off victories in the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas, G1 NZ 2000 Guineas, G2 Great Northern Guineas, G3 Wellington Stakes and G3 Waikato Guineas before the NZ Derby.

Jimmy Choux’s only other loss was in the G1 Levin Classic at Otaki in November when he pulled up with a heart fibrillation.  

“He’s a real character around the stable,” Hastings based Bary revealed.  “He’s quite intelligent and toys with other horses on the training track.”

Jimmy Choux is a homebred for Richard and Liz Wood of Chouxmaani Investments.  His sire Thorn Park was a G1 winner of the Stradbroke Hcp and stands at Windsor Park Stud for a fee of $13,500 (+ gst).  His dam Cierzo is a daughter of LR Castletown Stakes winner Gale (Wild Rampage).

The Woods also raced G1 stayer Count Chivas (Lord Ballina).  The tough gelding won an AJC Sydney Cup and SAJC South Australian Derby and was also runner-up in a VRC Melbourne Cup (behind Saintly), STC Mercedes Classic (Octagonal) and VATC Caulfield Cup (Doriemus).

Thorn Park weighed in with a treble at Saturday’s Hastings via 2yo filly Simply Magic, 3yo colt Clovelly Park and 4yo gelding Klose.