Engine Of War primed for South Australian Derby tilt
After surging home strongly at his last start, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Engine Of War is poised to strike in Saturday’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2518m) at Morphettville.
The three-year-old settled well back in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday but made up good ground under hard riding to finish fourth, beaten by around two-and-a-quarter lengths.
He finished behind Impulsive Reaction, whom he’ll again encounter on Saturday.
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Kent Jnr said the stable was extremely pleased with the run and looked forward to seeing what the gelding can do over the 2518m trip.
“We had to ride him back from the widest gate,” he said.
“They only went a sedate gallop, I thought he ran home as well as anything in the race and was probably the flashing light run. It was a perfect ‘prep’ run, and we’re pleased to report he’s pulled up super.
“We’ve trained him specifically to peak this Saturday in the Derby. It’s a race we know well.”
Price and Kent Jnr won the 2022 Chairman’s Stakes and Derby double with Jungle Magnate, while Warmonger finished an unlucky second in the 2024 Derby.
Engine Of War raced over 2500m in the Group 1 Victoria Derby last November and finished well back after racing three-wide without cover in what was described as a “forget run”.
The short-priced Derby favourite, Ciaron Maher-trained Accidental Bid, is the first reserve and needs a scratching to make his way into the 16-horse field.
Accidental Bid had two starts in Great Britain before joining the Maher operation and won a Pakenham maiden (1600m) on his Australian debut, and then scored a seven-and-three-quarter-length win at the same track on heavy ground over 2000m on April 16.
“The gate (two) is ideal, he’ll improve again up to that trip, the 2518m should be ideal for him,” Maher said. “His ‘prep’ has been good, he’s had a good grounding. He travelled wherever he liked last start.”
John Allen, who has ridden four South Australian Derby winners, including Explosive Jack for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in 2021, has been booked for the ride.
Maher has been guaranteed a start with Amazake, who finished third to Derby rivals Single Choice and Arabian Prince over 2400m at Caulfield on April 11.
Fillies have won the past two editions of the classic – Femminile in 2025 and Coco Sun in 2024 – and Calvin McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his father Tony, is confident the last start three-and-a-half length Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) winner Silvasista can add to the list.
McEvoy is confident the filly will handle the seven-day back-up.
“Our filly is very fit and very sound,” he said. “She’s lovely and loose. She’s eaten up and hasn’t left an oat.”
Dominic Sutton’s filly After Summer is also rated highly and has been Group 1-placed at her past two runs, including a close third in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 11.
“She was only third-up in Sydney and she’s still on the way up for sure,” Sutton said. “She’s very well.”
He sees Single Choice, Arabian Prince and Amazake as key rivals.
Clayton Douglas rates his gelding Kaye Jay, who finished fourth at his last start in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m), as a chance.
“He’s a nice horse that is going great,” Douglas said. “He had a little tick-over trial at Balnarring last week and a month between runs won’t be a worry for him, so I’m happy looking ahead to Saturday.”
