Durrant’s Derby Doubts
12 March, 2018
Thoroughbred
Leading trainer Adam Durrant queries if Miracle Man can progress to the next month’s WA Derby, raising doubts the three-year-old can run out a strong 2400m.
The Group 2 feature looms as a natural target for the son of Viscount after he scored a tenacious maiden stakes win in the Listed Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Ridden closer to the lead by Peter Knuckey, Miracle Man finished strongly from second on the turn and defeated favourite Action by ¾ of a length.
Durrant’s has no doubt Miracle Man is a horse with ability, but he remains cautious on whether the WA Derby on April 21 can be reached.
“He is out of a Metal Storm mare so I’m still on the fence whether he runs the 2400m of the Derby,” Durrant said on TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“It’s a great winning family, but they are more sort of milers and 1800 metre horses.
“They hit the line like they will get over further, but they don’t quite seem to stay.
“The Viscount in him will hopefully drag out a bit more distance and hopefully we can make it all the way to the Derby.
“He has the ability and hopefully he can have that stamina.”
Miracle Man capped another top day for Durrant, who consolidated his position at the head of the trainer’s premiership with a double.
Magic Planet, who won his first race as a two-year-old and Miracle Man boosted Durrant’s tally to 39 winners for the season.
Magic Planet adds to Durrant’s two-year-old stocks ahead of the Karrakatta Plate, joining boom filly Assetro, one of the leading fancies for WA’s premier two-year-old race.
Magic Planet, a $26,000 yearling, displayed sharp improvement and fitness after running sixth to Party Night when first up last month.
“He did the job well and is a little professional,” Durrant said
“He is probably on a different scale to my other two-year-olds.
“He is more of a real runner and two-year-olds is more his forte.
“It will be interesting to see how he improves on his third run.
“He’ll have another run in a fortnight and then we will assess it.”
Julio Santarelli