Oh Mickey Way Too Fine In Derby Decider

SOMETIMES things are just meant to be.

And that's a sentiment being echoed by connections of newly crowned Group 1 National Derby winner Oh Mickey tonight.

Delivering Wyee trainer Troy Donaldson the biggest moment of his training career, Oh Mickey turned in a courageous performance in Friday night's National Derby decider at Wentworth Park, scoring an all-the-way win in a slick 29.91.

But it was the events that led up to Oh Mickey's inclusion in the aged-classic, first run in 1963, that's the real story here.

A tidy second to Here Comes Joe in his Derby heat last week, Oh Mickey did enough to qualify as first reserve for the $75,000 to-the-winner final.

But with some of the leading Derby chances dropping by the wayside in the race lead up, it wasn't a matter of whether Oh Mickey would gain a start or not, but simply what box he would exit from.

On offer – one, four and seven come race morning via the unfortunate scratchings of Here Comes Joe, Simon Told Helen and Aston Sapporo.

As fate would have it he can up with one. And used it. Perfectly.

The son of Fernando Bale and Iona Champion began his career with owner Clint Kratzmann in Queensland, winning three of his first four starts, more than enough to suggest a crack at the National Derby was worthwhile.

Showing searing speed off the inside alley in Friday night's group 1 finale, Oh Mickey staved off the challenge of runner-up Poacher, the Owen Langley-trained outsider beaten 1 ¾ lengths at the finish.

Third was Rampant Jimmy for Danielle Swain while the raging hot favourite Hard Style Rico finished fourth, never really comfortable from the outset in traffic.