Herbie exacts revenge on the Albion Park lure as Derby takes shape

By Alex Nolan

Jemma Daley says a newfound rivalry with the arm of the Albion Park lure may have been the catalyst for Hara’s Herbie’s point-proving win in a heat of the Group 2 Queensland Derby.

Daley was determined to show the son of Sennachie and Hara’s Annie’s Ipswich Cup win from box one last month was far from a fluke.

Thursday’s fastest heat win, coupled with an impressive victory at Ipswich last Saturday, both out of box seven, went a long way to silencing any potential doubters.

Sent out a clear second pick in markets for the third of five heats, Hara’s Herbie crossed to the front with relative ease ahead of long odds-on favourite Jay Is Jay, drawn in box one.

The Selena Zammit-trained youngster – who boasts a time of 29.59 at Albion Park – tracked Hara’s Herbie throughout and loomed ominously as the only danger turning for home.

But Hara’s Herbie dug deep and safely held Jay Is Jay by one length, stopping the clock in 29.84 seconds.

Hara’s Herbie had warmed up for his heat of the Derby with an impressive three-and-a-half win at Ipswich in 30.13 on Christmas Eve, but Daley believes a trial prior to that may have sparked a fire in the Tony Glover-owned and bred chaser.

“He’s just found another gear out of the boxes,” Daley said.

“He had always shown it at Ipswich, but I gave him a box-to-box here last Saturday before the run at Ipswich and he tackled the arm and fell over and got very angry at the arm, so I think he’s got a vengeance against it.

“But he’s probably more so come of age.

“Everyone said he won the (Ipswich) Cup from box one, which it certainly did help, but his last two runs out of box seven have shown it really doesn’t matter.

“We’d love to draw box one for the final.”

With her point proven, Daley got her wish and Hara’s Herbie drew the red rug for the Final.

Jay Is Jay, who despite running second, posted a faster time than all four remaining heat winners, moves to the other side of the track to box eight.

Starline Express made a winning return to Albion Park after a recent look at Wentworth Park by winning the opening heat for trainer Reg Gardoll in 29.94.

The Dave Brett Memorial Maiden winner will exit box six in the final, with heat runner-up Rapid Ripple set to start from box three alongside littermate Suave Ripple.

He too had to settle for second, but in a familiar theme at Albion Park on Thursday, could only be demoted to runner-up after a lengthy examination of the photo finish.

The winner, Electrified, did almost everything possible to throw away the second heat of the series when sent out as a $1.60 favourite.

But the Western Australian flier, who had trialled at Albion Park in 29.80 after a hit-and-run mission earlier this month, stuck his nose out where it counted for Krystal and Steve Shinners.

“He’s a fierce competitor this dog as you can see, and he can go quicker on the clock,” Steve said post-race.

“We’ve had a couple of starters here and they seem to get in trouble all the time so hopefully that improves next week, but he’s a high-quality dog.  

“You can trial on a track but until you go around in a field it’s a different thing.”

Electrified will start from box four in the final, drawn alongside this year’s Group 1 Nationals Distance Sprint runner-up Simply Limelight.

The Peter Rodgers-trained dog defied a sluggish start and rallied along the fence to put up 4.25L on Sandstorm Rico in the final heat, stopping the clock in 30.20.

The Tony Zammit-trained De Ferran justified his short quote in the fourth heat when he chased down Tomahawk Hayze in the straight and held off an ultra-late challenge from Sydney visitor Showman Jack.

Group 2 Queensland Derby Box Draw

1. HARA’S HERBIE

2. SUAVE RIPPLE

3. RAPID RIPPLE

4. ELECTRIFIED

5. SIMPLY LIMELIGHT

6. STARLINE EXPRESS

7. DE FERRAN

8. JAY IS JAY

9R. SANDSTORM RICO

10R. SHOWMAN JACK