Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
The name Roger James is synonymous with the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Cambridge conditioner has done it once again when he and training partner Roger Wellwood produced the quinella in this year’s HKJC World Pool-sponsored Classic with Road To Paris (Circus Maximus) and Autumn Glory.
James had won the feature three-year-old staying contest on six prior occasions, starting with freakish filly Tidal Light in partnership with Jim Giibs in 1986, and 40 years later he made it win number seven, and his second with Wellwood after Orchestral triumphed in 2024.
This time the pair had to sweat at every start with the enigmatic Road To Paris who has proved a handful during his races, throwing away victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) in November by dislodging rider Masa Hashizume in the shadows of the post, while he also ducked in sharply when closing gamely behind That’s Gold in his final Derby lead-up event, the Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
The application of side winkers on Saturday looked to have worked the oracle on the son of Windsor Park Stud-based stallion Circus Maximus as he lobbed along comfortably near the tail of the field for rider George Rooke before slowly improving at the 600m on the back of stablemate and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Autumn Glory.
That pair stormed to the front at the 250m and set down to fight out a nail-biting finish which went in favour of Road To Paris by a length, with Geneva battling home gamely for third.
The drama didn’t end there though as Road To Paris dumped jockey George Rooke as they cantered back to the birdcage, while shortly afterwards the protest siren sounded with a judicial inquiry convened to look at interference by the winner against both placegetters over the final 150m.
Despite some definite tightening from Road To Paris, the protest was dismissed and the gelding held the win.
“I’m elated as we were super happy with all three of our horses,” James said.
“We felt we had a huge show until the barriers came out - Road To Paris (13), Ariadne (14), Autumn Glory (15) - and we were pretty deflated.
“There were two super rides on the first two and in fact all three rides were huge. There is a big build-up to these days and this is very special.
“He (Road To Paris) is untapped but he has to improve his manners. This is also super for George (Rooke) as he has had a few rough times lately and we have stuck with him; he has stuck with us and that was one of the coolest Derby rides you will ever see.
“I think we may look at Sydney with the winner if he comes through this, but I think the filly has probably done enough for now.”.
Bred and raced by Ron and Judi Wanless, Road To Paris is out of the four-time winning Savabeel mare Spirit Of Heaven, who is a three-quarter sister to Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Lights Of Heaven.
He is the first Group One winner for Windsor Park Stud’s promising young sire Circus Maximus, a triple Group One winning European miler by Galileo, who was also represented in the race by Towering Vision (seventh), with both horses being from their sire’s first New Zealand crop. -
