Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu to bypass All-Star Mile to chase Australian Derby crown

Glamour three-year-old Hitotsu will skip the All-Star Mile to chase another Derby win in Sydney.

Hitotsu will miss the All-Star Mile and Rosehill Guineas to focus on the Group 1 Australian Derby in Sydney. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

Top three-year-old Hitotsu will miss Saturday’s $5m All-Star Mile at Flemington.

And he will also bypass the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas, also on Saturday.

Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have decided to stick with a proven formula with the last-start Australian Guineas winner.

“We’ve had a chat with the owners this morning and we’re in agreeance that it (the All-Star Mile) is not quite the right timing,” Eustace said.

“We’re probably going to wait with him and he’ll go straight to the Australian Derby.”

Hitotsu would need to jump from the 1600m of the Australian Guineas to 2400m for his next start in the Australian Derby.

But the significant distance rise was not an issue for the son of Japanese star Maurice in the spring.

Hitotsu ran fifth in the Caulfield Guineas over 1600m before comfortably winning the Victoria Derby over 2500m in the spring.

“He’s come through the Australian Guineas in great order,” Eustace said.

“He’s sound, happy, and bouncing.

“He’ll have a gallop on Wednesday but he’s in good nick.”

Hitotsu is the $4.50 favourite in TAB’s latest Australian Derby market.

While Hitotsu is all but certain to remain in his stable on Saturday, Maher and Eustace will produce the Golden Slipper favourite Coolangatta in Saturday’s $5m race at Rosehill.

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace also train the Group 1 Golden Slipper favourite Coolangatta. Picture: Getty Images.

The unbeaten Coolangatta has been one of the standout two-year-olds of the season.

She easily won the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes in Sydney on debut before progressing to Queensland where she won the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes and the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).

Coolangatta will have her first run since January 15 in the Golden Slipper but Eustace said the Written Tycoon filly will be ready to fire on Saturday, especially if the Rosehill track was not heavy.

“She had a jumpout last Friday and she went very well so she’s on track,” he said.

“We’ll be running in any conditions on Saturday but we’d prefer it if it wasn’t a wet track.”

Meanwhile, the Maher and Eustace camp will continue the impressive maiden Australian campaign of US mare Lighthouse.

Lighthouse broke through for her first Group 1 win in last Saturday’s Coolmore Classic at Rosehill at the latest outing of a preparation that began with a Benchmark 84 win at Kyneton last November.

“She’s very tough, she’s come out of Saturday’s run very well,” Eustace said.

“We’ll press on with her and look to run her in the Queen Of The Turf (at Randwick) in a couple of weeks.

$5m ALL-STAR MILE (Likely field)
1600m - Flemington Saturday, March 19

1. I'M THUNDERSTRUCK (59kg) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr - J: Jye McNeil
2. ZAAKI (59kg) T: Annabel Neasham - J: Jamie Kah
3. CASCADIAN (59kg) T: James Cummings - J: Damien Oliver
4. STREETS OF AVALON (59kg) T: Shane Nichols - J: TBD
5. LUNAR FOX (59kg) T: Paul Preusker - J: TBD
6. KING MAGNUS (59kg) T: Robbie Griffiths & Michael De Kock - J: TBD
7. REGALO DI GAETANO (59kg) T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly - J: Jake Toeroek
8. MR BRIGHTSIDE (59kg) T: Ben & JD Hayes - J: Craig Williams
9. ICEBATH (57kg) T: Brad Widdup - J: TBD
10. TOFANE (57kg) T: Michael Moroney - Jamie Mott
11. SIERRA SUE (57kg) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young - J: John Allen
12. INSPIRATIONAL GIRL (57kg) T: Danny O'Brien - J: Damian Lane
13. CAPTIVANT (56kg) T: Peter & Paul Snowden - J: TBD
14. LIGHTSABER (56kg) T: Peter Moody - J: Luke Nolen
15. PINSTRIPED (56kg) T: Enver Jusufovic - J: Michael Dee

Em 16. FLYING MASCOT (57kg) T: Tom Dabernig J:

Originally published as Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu to bypass All-Star Mile to chase Australian Derby crown