Emerging three-year-old Sonofdec can provide Jay Hopkins with the biggest win of his career in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m).
The $1,000,000 Queensland Derby is the premier event for three-year-old stayers held during the Queensland Winter Carnival. The race is held at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia.
Hopkins only manages a small team of four horses but his phone has been running hot in recent weeks as the most exciting galloper he’s ever trained aims up at this week’s $1m three-year-old feature.
It came after Sonofdec thrust himself in the Derby frame with a slashing win at Scone earlier this month.
The performance that saw some big money offers roll in but connections have spurned that interest as Hopkins chases the biggest victory of his career.
“Ever since Scone the other day, it’s been bang on really and we’ve had that many people ringing up to talk about him or even try to buy the horse,” Hopkins said.
“It’s great (to have a horse in the Derby).
“The owners, Stum-Pees Thorougbreds, bred the horse and want to race him to have fun.
“I think he is a good chance in the Derby, just the way he won the other day shows that.”
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Hopkins is based at Lovedale, an hour out of Newcastle, and with his wife Hannah has been managing his own stable for close to a decade.
He started his career at Coffs Harbour alongside Ken Langtry followed by stints with Trevor Sutherland, Luke Oliver, Barbara Joseph and John O’Shea.
Gutsy gelding Got Unders first put the trainer on the map when he deliver Hopkins his maiden stakes victory by winning the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle in 2017.
Sonofdec could take Hopkins reach even greater heights.
“Got Unders was probably the toughest horse I’ve had and started it all off and at this point, Sonofdec is the most brilliant with the way he has won his races,” Hopkins said.
“Got Unders ran second to Happy Clapper in a Newcastle Newmarket and won a Cameron for us.
“It’s a thrill to have a horse (like Sonofdec).
“The last three or four months of the stable, even with a small team, we’ve been going pretty well but he is obviously the flag-bearer.
“He is the one that is putting the name out there.”
Sonofdec was a brilliant winner at Scone last start. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
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Sonofdec will make the float trip up to Queensland on Thursday with several of fellow Hunter trainer Kris Lees’ runners but has been set a task in the Derby after drawing barrier 21.
However, the son of Kermadec travels to Eagle Farm in top form with victories at Newcastle and Scone at his past two starts, the second of which came over 1700m.
“He pulled up well from his win the other day at Scone and we’ve just been working towards the extra distance,” Hopkins said.
“I don’t think he will have an issue with the distance.
“The favourite drawing the inside helps it out but it’s pretty even and I think he should be right in it.”
Regan Bayliss will take the ride on Sonofdec in the Queensland Derby, in which the gelding is rated a $23 contender.