Courtesy of The Dogs

Reg's Red Hot Derby Favourite
Written by: Gerard Guthrie 01/02/10

Reg Kay’s Elite Blue Size looks to have Friday’s Group One Newcastle Herald National Derby at his mercy after a sensational semi-final victory was followed by a perfect box draw.

After winning his Derby heat in a best of meeting 29.76s, Elite Blue Size set The Gardens alight last Friday when securing his semi in a blistering 29.42s, just .17s outside the 29.25 track record held by Kay’s 2008 National Sprint champion Knocka Norris.

Elite Blue Size, a son of Kay’s 2003 National Sprint hero Elite State, completely dominated a quality semi-final field despite being drawn in box six and his stranglehold on the $50,000-to-the-winner Derby tightened even further when he was allocated the coveted red rug for the decider.

Elite Blue Size was clearly the quicker of the two semi winners with Chris Nutt’s St Pierre replicating his win in the St Leger in December when leading all-the-way from box one to claim the second semi in 29.73s.

The latest star to emerge from Kay’s seemingly endless production line will be chasing his second Group win for 2010 in Friday’s Derby after winning the Group Two Gosford Gold Cup in January.

He also had box one in the Gosford Cup and has enjoyed a dream run of inside alleys of late, with the Derby Final his fourth rails draw in his last five starts.

After his scintillating five length semi victory over classy Victorian Silent Guardian, Elite Blue Size didn’t need the ‘leg up’ provided by box one to be the testing material in the Derby and from the perfect draw he’ll start a dominant favourite.

Two semis of the Group One Nexia National Futurity, which Reg Kay won in 2008 with Elite Oriental, were also held on Friday with Brett May’s Daydream the fastest qualifier after securing the opening run-off in 29.71s.

Nicole Donovan’s Pink Surprise won the second Futurity semi in 29.79s.

The two semi winners have drawn alongside each other in boxes two (Daydream) and three (Pink Surprise) for Friday’s decider.

NATIONAL DERBY AND FUTURITY FINALS BOX DRAWS

NATIONAL DERBY FINAL
1.ELITE BLUE SIZE
2.GNARLEY BOY
3.TYSON MAGIC
4.ST PIERRE
5.JEDD LION
6.OUTA CREDIT
7.ALL MAGIC
8.SILENT GUARDIAN

9.KEVIN OH SEVEN
10.HOT SIZE


NATIONAL FUTURITY FINAL
1.JAYDO'S NEGLECT
2.DAYDREAM
3.PINK SURPRISE
4.MEGA PIXEL
5.CRISTALLE
6.ODESSA SHIRAZ
7.PAUA TO ERUPT
8.BIT STRESSED

9.GRETA BALE
10.PRINCESS BLING