Scratchy Bottom The Lone Filly In Saturday’s Derby

Victorian filly Scratchy Bottom will attempt to become just the fourth filly in the past fifty years to topple the boys this weekend, as the Mick Kent-trained stayer takes her place as the lone female entrant in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m).

The talented daughter of Sebring will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of filly’s English Wonder (1982), Showella (1999) and Zarita (2008) by winning the Group 1 Classic against the colts, in what will be just her seventh career start.

Trainer Mick Kent is confident that his filly can tough-it with the boys however, booking her spot in the field with a fast-finishing third to May’s Dream is last week’s Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) for fillies and mares.

“She seems to have pulled up ok,” Kent said. “I went over and watched her work (Tuesday) and she seems to have done well.

“I’ve never backed her up this quick before, but all indications are that she’s done ok so we’re hopeful.

“She ran really well the other day in the Oaks; she’s finally starting to show what we thought of her earlier.

Kent has always harboured high hopes for his up-and-coming stayer, after a blistering three-and-a-half length win on debut at Moonee Valley last October.

“She’s always been a nice filly at home,” Kent said.

“She’s always been really striking with her work; the last of her work’s always been her best bit. No matter what she did she was always strong late, which is her racing pattern too as it turns out.”

Having her second run in Adelaide after a six week freshen-up, Scratchy Bottom will be partnered by South Australian Premiership leading jockey Dom Tourneur on Saturday, with regular rider Michael Rodd already committed to rides at Hawkesbury this weekend.

“This was only a B-plan, the Derby; Michael (Rodd) wasn’t aware of it until after the race,” Kent said.

“Had she won the other day we wouldn’t even be running her.

“Michael had to miss the ride as he was committed to rides at Hawkesbury, but it’s a huge advantage to have Dom with his home track knowledge.”

“It’s a bit of a throw at the stumps with her still. She ran well in the race we targeted with her last week. It happened that there’s a Group 1 race seven days later so we thought we’d roll the dice and give it a shot.”

Drawn barrier one of 16 on Saturday, Scratchy Bottom will have to be at her best to catch a number of talented colts and geldings, including Gai Waterhouse’s last start runaway winner of the Listed VRC St Leger, Order  Of The Sun (barrier 4).

David Hayes has accepted with his VRC St Leger Placegetter Honey Steel’s Gold (12), with the Mick Price-trained More Rewarding (fourth, 2) also coming through last week’s Flemington feature.

Cranbourne trainer Ken Keys will be aiming for three-in-a-row with his last start Listed Galilee Final (2400m) winner Bring Something (14), and Peter Moody will represented in the race by Crime Fighter (9), a disappointing 11th last time out in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) behind Criterion.

– Racing Victoria

Share this article