Peter Tighe chasing first Group 1 since Winx with $151 shot Twigman in Australian Derby

Winx’s part-owner Peter Tighe will be feeling more relaxed when his family-bred stayer contests the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick on Saturday.

Peter Tighe (right) with son James “Twiggy” Tighe (left) and John Misuraca. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Four years ago, Peter Tighe felt the weight of the world on his shoulders when Winx was sent around at $1.06 in her farewell race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Fast forward to 2023 and the Brisbane businessman will walk into Randwick on Saturday with a vastly different feeling with $151 Group 1 Australian Derby contender Twigman.

But there is special significance in Twigman, the Paul Shailer-trained gelding who faces a mighty class leap from winning a Benchmark 58 Handicap over 2000m at Port Macquarie earlier this month.

Twigman is named after Tighe’s son James who stands almost two metres tall and has been called “Twiggy” since he was a kid.

AUSTRALIAN DERBY RUNNER-BY-RUNNER ANALYSIS

Ironically, Shailer’s nickname is also Twiggy.

It would be quite the story if Twigman gave Tighe his first Group 1 winner since Winx.

“When I sold my interest in (four-time Group 1 winner) Preferment I got three breeding rights, one a year for three years,” Tighe said.

“I bred three foals, the first one was tiny and not much good, and I’ve got a two-year-old and I’ve got Twigman.

“I sent Twigman to Paul Shailer and said, ‘see what you can do’.

“It’s family bred and I race it with my children – James, Andrew Williams and Nicole Lloyd and with Patty (Tighe’s wife).

“This horse runs in our original family racing colours, red and green checks with red sleeves and red cap – we started with them about 25 years ago.”

Twigman’s trainer Paul Shailer.

Tighe said there are “no expectations whatsoever” with Twigman in the Derby – unlike with Winx and her famous winning streak.

However, he insists Twigman – who boasts a booming finish and has always shaped as a promising stayer – will race far better than his Derby odds suggest.

“This horse has jumped out of the ground,” Tighe said.

“Paul has planned this to get him the Derby, right from last October when he won his first race.

“He always said he would be a good stayer and he would stay all day.

“He is going from a Benchmark 58 at Port Macquarie to a Group 1 Derby so there are no expectations.

“But racing is a funny game and we know he will handle the (Derby) trip.

“Whatever happens, I will have a great weekend away with James and we will be cheering on Twigman.”

Paul Shailer and Luke Dittman. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Before taking out his own training license, Shailer worked for Chris Waller as his foreman in Queensland.

At the time, Waller regularly used Queensland jockey Luke Dittman for rides in the Sunshine State.

Shailer has turned to Dittman, the son of legendary jockey Mick, to partner Twigman in the Derby.

Originally published as Peter Tighe chasing first Group 1 since Winx with $151 shot Twigman in Australian Derby