The White RobeLodge-born and bred galloper will attempt to add the $1 million group 1 feature to Victorian Darren Weir’s incredible training record.
Civil Disobedience jetted into Auckland earlier this week and good reports have emerged from his camp after the horse’s leadup work at Ellerslie.
The Raise The Flag galloper is on a hit-and-run mission to claim New Zealand’s premier 3yr-old event after giving his rivals a good old-fashioned hiding in the Tasmanian Derby last month.
The man charged with piloting the horse to victory is on a jetsetting mission of his own.
Ben Allen will have the last of three rides at Moonee Valley tonight on the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Montaser in race 4at 10pm NZ time before preparing to wing his way to New Zealand.
Allen has not just called upon the trainers for their thoughts on Montaser this week, he has also got as much inside information as he can on the New Zealand Derby.
He needs it, as he has to negotiate a winning path from the wide barrier draw of 17 on Civil Disobedience.
‘‘I have spoken to a couple of trainers like Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and they said in the Derby you have to have a spot before the corner or else you are left working up the hill and doing too much work.
‘‘They always go pretty hard to that first corner and then steady up down the back straight.
‘‘Hopefully, if I jump well and let the speed go, I can try and get into a handy enough position without being left out the back for the final part of the race.’’
Allen has the advantage of having ridden on the unique Ellerslie track, experience that is considered vital for horses and riders going into big races there.
‘‘I don’t mind riding at Ellerslie; I thought it was areally nice track when I rode there.
‘‘It is a bit tricky when you are working out of the straight; you are working uphill, so you don’t want to be left without cover.’’
As well as seeking all the inside information he can, Allen has also thoroughly studied the form of the New Zealand rivals his horse will take on in tomorrow’s 2400m event.
He admits it is hard to line that up against Civil Disobedience’s Australian form, but instinct tells Allen his horse will measure up.
‘‘It is a bit tricky.
‘‘He has shown that he has got the ability and even when he won the Tassie derby last start he won pretty convincingly and looked to do it pretty easy.’’
TAB favourite for the race Danzdanzdance has the advantage of having two prior runs on the Ellerslie track.
In the latest of those, the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbstrained filly charged into second place in the Avondale Guineas behind Derby rival On The Rocks.
