Providence prevails as Newgate/CHC quinella Queensland Derby
While Providence claimed the Queensland Derby, Joe Pride’s consistent sprinter-miler Headley Grange secured a deserved victory in the other Group1 at Eagle Farm, the Kingsford Smith Cup.
Wootton Bassett colt Providence won the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on Saturday, not just breaking his stakes duck, but doing it in Group One style.
Jockey James McDonald said it had taken he and the Chris Waller team four preps to work the horse out, but on Saturday Providence took a genuine pace over the 2400-metres Derby and used it to kick away for a 0.97l win over stablemate Monopolistic.
Both horses raced in the Newgate colours.
“He’s probably not a true stayer,” McDonald said. “But at 10 furlongs he’s pretty sharp and he’s come a long way in a short time.”
Providence, for a syndicate that includes some of the biggest names in the business, had been winless in stakes company up to Saturday.
His closest effort had been in the spring, in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase, when running Observer to a half-length second. His only victory in 14 starts had been in a super maiden at Wyong in February.
However, the market must have seen something because Providence was the pick of the four Waller horses in the Derby field, and he returned a $4.60 winner, likely off the back of a last-start third to Kilman a fortnight ago in the Group 3 Rough Habit Stakes at Doomben.
Chris Waller said the Queensland factor had worked in their favour.
“It was a great ride from James for a good team of owners,” the trainer said. “They’ve quinellaed the race with two nice stayers with bright futures.
“We see Queensland each and every winter as a springboard for a lot of our better horses, and this horse is still on the up, which is very exciting for connections.”
Providence was a $625,000 yearling in 2024, consigned by Bhima at Inglis Easter and snapped up by the China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy partnership.
At casual glance it is a stayer’s pedigree.
First dam Southbank (Fastnet Rock) was placed in both the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and Group 1 Thousand Guineas, while the third dam, Better Alternative (Flying Spur), is best known as the dam of champion stayer Preferment (Zabeel).
Providence’s victory in the Queensland Derby continued to highlight the loss of Wootton Bassett to the Australian industry.
It was the late stallion’s fourth Australian stakes winner this season from just two crops to the track.
Meanwhile, Exosphere gelding Headley Grange delivered a Group 1 win in a blanket finish in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
Ridden cleverly by Adam Hyeronimus, Headley Grange squeezed through a gap and snatched a winning break to defeat Jimmysstar, who endured a wide run and could not repel his rival in the final stages. Fangirl flashed late for third, half a length behind the winner.
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