New Zealand bred gallopers will be gunning for a fourth Victoria Derby victory in the last five years at Flemington this Saturday.  There are six NZ-breds engaged in an attempt to emulate Efficient (2006), Kibbutz (2007) and Monaco Consul (2009).

The Kiwi bred three year-olds have enjoyed a remarkable strike-rate in the G1 Victoria Derby since Martini Henry (Musket) was successful in 1883.  The classic staying test for three-year-olds is generally regarded as the Victorian Racing Club’s second most prestigious race behind the Melbourne Cup.

Martini Henry must have been a remarkable galloper.  He won the Victoria Derby on debut and went on to complete the Melbourne Cup double.

His sire Musket was originally brought to New Zealand to improve the standard of carriage horses but eventually played an important role in establishing the NZ-bred galloper.

Musket sired 1885 Victoria Derby winner Nordenfeldt and that horse continued the sireline by getting 1891 winner Strathmore and 1893 winner Carnage.  Musket’s champion son Carbine (NZ) also sired the Victorian Derby winners Wallace and Amberite.

Musket’s name also appeared in the bloodlines of NZ bred immortal Phar Lap.  His son Maxim sired Phar Lap’s third-dam Catherine Wheel.  Like Musket, Phar Lap won the Victorian Derby before going on to complete the Melbourne Cup double.

Since 1970, New Zealand has bred 19 VRC Victoria Derby winners and that will increase to 20 if any of the following horses prevail this Saturday:
Lion Tamer (Storming Home), Praecido (One Cool Cat), Kudakulari (Savabeel), Digital Fortress (Savabeel), Shootoff (Duelled) and Absolutelyawesome (Zenno Rob Roy).