Satchmo’s Hanky Wins The 2014 Dapto Derby
Amid driving rain, Satchmo's Hanky (8) caused a boilover when he led all the way to land the $5,000 to-the-winner Dapto Derby for Badgery's Creek trainer Ben McCauley at the iconic South Coast circuit on Thursday night.
Sent out as a $21 outsider, the son of Bit Chili and Hannah Jane (Elite State – Austina) began flawlessly from the outside alley to cross the field and lead easily in a first section of 5.43.
Favourite Supercell (1) landed in second early with Francois Dryva (7) in third.
Satchmo's Hanky extended his lead up the back straight and burnt off the more fancied Supercell, opening up a break.
As they came off the back, Francois Dryva emerged from third place in a hurry, racing up to the leaders hind-quarters and it looked as though it could be another Dapto Derby heading the way of Kembla Grange trainer Ruth King.
But to his credit, Satchmo's Hanky kept finding and prevailed to score by three-quarters of a length, stopping the clock at 29.95 on a waterlogged Dapto surface. Francois Dryva finished second, while Supercell stuck on well for third.
Of the beaten brigade, Pablo Cruz (2) was away ok and fourth into the back, but copped a slight prat and drifted back through the field to finish sixth. Rexroth (3) collided with dogs at box rise and raced very wide into the first turn, finding plenty of trouble. Scout's Gold (4) was squeezed up at the start and checked off heels in the catching pen but still ran on well for fourth. Electro Storm (5) looked desperate for the fence, carving left early and colliding with dogs before being carted off on the first turn and out of play. Fast Archer (6) was also slowly away and found a world of interference at the first turn, leaving him with little hope.
The win was Satchmo's Hanky's 14th from 44 career outings and takes his earnings over the $32,000 mark.