Doleuze makes it back-to-back Derby Trial wins after four-year-old's late burst
The John Size-trained Unique Jewellery turned his tactics and the Classic Mile form upside down in yesterday's Group Two Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial (1,800m) to throw down his credentials for next month's four-year-old classic.
A beaten favourite in the Classic Mile behind Thumbs Up, he more than turned the tables on that horse to land a narrow win and give jockey Olivier Doleuze back-to-back Derby Trial victories after taking the event on Green Birdie last year.
Another farcical pace may have had others finding excuses for their Derby hopefuls, but Size and Doleuze cooked up the winning change with the decision to ride Unique Jewellery much quieter this time.
With Weichong Marwing doing a great job at trying to steal the Trial from the front on Redragtoabull, Unique Jewellery stormed down the centre of the track in the final 200m with the John Moore-trained Kings Falcon and was able to outstay him and their rivals.
'In the Classic Mile, he came off an awkward draw and went forward and he saw too much of the breeze early, and then overraced and fought the rider down the back straight,' Size said.
