Gwenda Markwell’s Angel of Truth made it back-to-back wins at Randwick on Saturday claiming the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) in extraordinary fashion.
Leading from barrier to box, last week’s Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner lapped up the wet track, dictating from the front to go on and win by three lengths.
It was a repeat quinella of last week’s Tulloch Stakes with the Murray Baker trained Madison Country finishing second. Last week’s win also came on a heavy track for Angel of Truth, while it also earned Markwell her second ever Group 1 victory.
Angel of Truth, above, claimed Group 1 glory on debut at Randwick. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
“He’s a good horse. When I saw him around the 1000m racing with the ears priced, I thought ‘he’s going to take a lot of running down here” Markwell said.
The three-year-old by Animal Kingdom jumped well to sit second off the fence before taking the lead at the 2000m mark. The last three winners of Australian Derby have come through the Tulloch, while Saturday also marked Corey Brown’s second Derby win after riding Eremein to victory in 2005.
““I was worried on the way to the gates, backing up off a week after not doing much with him. Once he got to the front, he did what he liked. 600m from home he was travelling and once he gets to his top he sustains it” Brown said.
Madison County also jumped well but found herself fourth from the rear at the 1200m mark. Third place-getter Surely Sacred also finished strongly.
