Beav's Starring Richmond Derby Role

TRAINER Chris Nutt concedes his prodigious young talent Rockstar Beav will need to raise the bar yet again if he's to annex Friday night's Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Derby Final (535m).

With just two lengths separating the four heat winners at the western Sydney circuit on Friday night, it was the Nutt part-owned and trained Rockstar Beav that set the time-standard for the $40,000 to-the-winner decider, the son of Collision rocketing over the 535m journey in a stunning 30.35 – running home in a remarkable 14.95.

"He's drawn box eight for the final which isn't ideal but I wouldn't swap him for any other dog in the race, the last six or so weeks he's really jumped out of the ground," declared Nutt on Monday morning.

"The dog has always been able to run but his box manners were ordinary early on. I left him at Bulli for a block of starts and that's really helped him start beginning. I was definitely surprised with how well he went on Friday but when he led I knew he wouldn't be getting run down, he's very strong."

Winner at six of his 16 starts to begin his career, including a sizzling 26.13 Bulli victory over the 472m and all-the-way 28.90 success over the 515m three runs back, Nutt is cautiously optimistic from box eight in Friday night's $40,000 decider, giving away age to each of his seven rivals.

"It's a cracking race isn't it?" described Nutt.

"While I say box eight isn't ideal, he won't crash down either – I don't mind him drawn wide. In a perfect world the seven (Lagoon Rhett) will come across and give him a cart into the race. I'm not saying he can't lead but he'll need to come out running – there's not a lot between the field time wise. I think away from the two (North), the rest of the field ran around the same first sections."

Not two years of age for another fortnight, Rockstar Beav is a son of Collision out of Bekim Rose, injury curtailing the dam's promising career after just three starts.

"She only had the three runs but she was going to be a cracking stayer, the Daillys were shattered when we had to retire her," said Nutt.

"Collision has really clicked with her, the whole litter goes good, Rockstar Prince is the quickest of them, he's a rocket. We've got a 10 month old litter by Mepunga Blazer and when she comes on next Shaun (Evans) plans to use Aphorism with her. We've got a few litters by Aphorism here and being by Collision that should prove a nice cross for her."

While a future staying campaign is somewhere in the works for Rockstar Beav, Nutt says the promising youngster's sharp rise to group grade will see that idea take a backseat for the time being.

"It's funny how things can change, six weeks back I was looking to throw him in a 600m race somewhere and now I'm looking through a group race guide.

“He's bouncing off the walls this dog, he thrives on work so he had a gallop up the straight Monday morning. He's right to go Friday."

Given the perceived evenness of Friday night's Richmond Derby Final (535m), betting for the race is proving rather opinionated.

Bet365 has installed 30.47 heat winner Lagoon Rhett joint favourite with Rockstar Beav at $3.80, with next in betting runner-ups Catch Me Curly and Black Forge at $4.50.

Victorian Slingshot Hammer, winner of his heat in 30.48, is currently an $8.50 chance for Rob Camilleri, while fellow Victorian Uno Fabio, an outstanding 30.42 winner of his qualifier for Anthony Azzopardi, is also quoted an $8.50 elect.

Likely leader for Friday night's final is the John Hughes-trained North from box two, quoted an $11.00 chance to deliver his Richmond trainer a second local Derby, following his 1995 victory with Fabian.