Tasracing

When one of last season’s better two-year-olds Deroche resumed racing this season expectations were high and despite failing first-up her subsequent six outings produced performances that set her apart from most in her age group.

Tasmania produced a number of outstanding three-year-olds this season and all were fillies with Still a Star and Deroche the two stand-outs.

Deroche won a trial by 15 lengths on her home track in Devonport in the lead-up to her first assignment as a three-year-old and punters took heed of the trial win to send her around the $1.90 favourite in the 3YO Cup over 1200m.

She led but knocked up over the concluding stages, finishing fifth to Still a Star, but what followed was to signal the Leanne Gaffney-trained filly’s arrival as a potential superstar.

Deroche (Craig Newitt) easily wins a benchmark 74 handicap over 1150m in Devonport.

A month after the 3YO Cup flop she was sent to a benchmark 74 handicap over 1150m on her home track in Devonport where she demolished her opposition, winning by 4.5 lengths but it could have been by further had jockey Craig Newitt desired.

The daughter of Needs Further-Buzzing Along then powered her way to an effortless win in the 3YO Vase and while it was a small field of five she accomplished the feat with authority.

Getting fitter with each outing, the flashy chestnut with the flaxen mane and tail progressed to the Carbine Club Stakes for three-year-olds with the classic event one of eight that were run for the first time on the new Elwick track.

She won by 2.5 lengths being eased down by Newitt over the concluding stages.

Her biggest test was at her subsequent start in the Group 3 Bow Mistress Stakes over 1200m on Hobart Cup day and while the record shows she finished second to Victorian mare Zargos, there is no doubt had she gained clear racing room in the home straight she would have emerged victorious.

Connections had some serious decisions to make in the following fortnight as she was always going to be aimed at the 3 & 4YO Tasmanian Magic Millions Classic over 1400m on Oaks day (23 February) but there was the temptation to tackle the Group 3 Vamos (1400m) three days later.

Deroche went to the Magic Millions Classic and won it with consummate ease, with Newitt giving her the softest possible run.

Deroche wins the Magic Millions 3 & 4YO.

She emerged from the race as if she hadn’t had a run so connections made the bold move of accepting for the Vamos Stakes that boasted many of the mares that contested the Bow Mistress.

It proved to be a worthwhile decision because Deroche emerged triumphant to establish the daughter of Needs Further as one of the state’s best gallopers.

She always travelled like the winner after Newitt settled her outside of the leader I Remember You and when they reached the top of the home straight the filly forged clear and went on to defeat the fast-finishing Victorian mare Miss Mandito and the Tony McKevoy-trained Jentico.

Deroche headed to the spelling paddock at Armidale with a bold 3YO record of five wins from seven starts for a tick under $205,000 in stakes to take her career earnings to almost $342,000.

That’s a fair return for a filly that was purchased by Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds for $61,000 at the 2018 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling sale.

As a Group-winning filly her residual value as a broodmare soared this season, making her one of the most valuable gallopers in the state, but maybe her best is yet to come.

Deroche is owned and raced by Ms D J Martin, L Polglase, V Y K Ip, Mrs S M Sims, C J Leach, Mrs J A Leach, Mrs R Howard, Mrs C E Huisman, R J Foster, M A Paine, Armidale Stud (Mgr: Mrs R L Whishaw) & Paramount Racing (Mgr: Ms K M Wood).

Watch Deroche win the Group 3 Vamos Stakes in Launceston in February.