Sennachie set to sizzle in Queensland Derby

By Isaac Murphy

Victorian trainer Steve White couldn’t believe what he saw when Sennachie won his Maiden at Angle Park by over 18 lengths in 29.5sec last November, a feat in his words that “just doesn’t happen.”

After a successful negotiation with original trainer Kirin Corby, White secured the dog he 'had to have' and when the yet to be two-year-old ran second to multiple Group One winner Barooga Brett in The Silver Chief this January, White knew there were special things to come.

“It was his second start under my watch when he ran second in The (Group One) Silver Chief and any doubts I had about having a potential champion were put to bed,” White said.

Four months later at start 15, Sennachie lines up as a leading hope in this week's Group Two Queensland Derby Final after a brave heat run last week.

“I was happy with his run last week he was checked a little by the two dog (Bad Benny) and then when he tried to go past him down the back they got into a bit of a bumping duel and once he got around the bend he’d lost a lot of momentum,” White said.

“Taking all of that into account he did a great job to only got down by the narrowest of margins, it was a deceiving angle even Warren (Nicholls) who had the red (Broken Loose) congratulated me, I had the owners calling me to go check the print, but we got what we came for a spot in the final.”

The dog has come up with a tough draw in comparison to the highly fancied King Cratos, but White is confident if he puts it all together he’ll take a whole lot of beating.

“He’s a very fast dog, but he’s had no favours with the draw coming out of the six could be a bit sticky, especially with the pace in five (Painted Picture) and seven (Bad benny),” White said.

“He’s got brilliant early speed if he doesn’t get touched and his transition to his second sectional is the quickest I’ve seen, he could skip away from them.”

“If we could switch boxes with King Cratos I’d be a happy man, he’s a quality dog and out of the two with no speed around him he’ll be tough to roll.”

At twenty-seven months and on the verge of his first Group triumph White is understandably bullish about the dogs future possessing ability other simply don’t have.

“He’s just turned two so I’m hoping with natural progression in about six months he’ll be at the peak of his powers,” White said.

“His real x-factor is his transition between his first and second split, when he gets that clean run he just motors, he’s strong home but he’s a lot better dog when he’s out high balling.”

“The next big target for him will be the (Group One) Maturity Classic at The Meadows in early July, but I also think he’s going to be an exceptional one turn dog with his blistering pace he’s well suited to a number of Country Cups in Victoria.”

White has trained multiple Group One dogs in his time and has learnt how to carefully manage and also compare his past and future champions.

“When you’ve got a dog with his potential you can’t be putting them in wearing them down every week, so I’ll be incredibly vigilant in sitting down and picking out what’s right for him,” he said.

“The best dog I’ve ever had was Tommy Brislane, who won a Group One and a Group Two before his second birthday, although Sennachie is a little behind time I rank him right up with him, he’s on his way to big things.”