It is a long way from Thirsk to a South Australian Derby, but it’s the journey Accidental Bid has taken in the past year.
It is probably as far away as being a $151 chance in a maiden to being the $3.80 Derby favourite, even though you’re giving up six months to your rivals.
But there is nothing accidental about the ambition that started with a sharp eye of Australian Bloodstock’s Luke Murrell watching film from the north Yorkshire track, which is not among the more famous in England.
“We have been trying to find a staying horse to bring here for a Derby for a number of years, but it is nearly impossible,” Jamie Lovett said.
“You’re a better chance of finding a Melbourne Cup winner in truth.”
Australian Bloodstock has done that with Protectionist and Gold Trip, both at a different price point to Accidental Bid.
The three-year-old had only visited the track once, when they made their move, after a closing second.
“He finished off his debut at Thirsk well and when we got into the numbers, they made the run look better,” Lovett said.
“We had dealt with the trainer before with some success, and he is out of stallion [Phoenix Of Spain] we liked because he gets things that stick a bit. The dam side was good as well.
“So we bought him off a run at 150-1, which is unusual, and he ran for us in a big handicap at Newmarket, where he was all right finishing midfield [of 26] and then came out here.
“This is what you dream about when you’re buying a horse like him. He was really a cheapie compared to others we have bought.”
Accidental Bid is unbeaten since arriving in Australia, winning over a mile at Pakenham before extending out to 2000m at the same track for an eight-length victory.
“We didn’t know what to expect from him first-up because he is a little shufflely in his action,” Lovett said. “He has been very good in his two runs and the Derby has become an option.
“You have to remember he is six months behind the horses he is taking on, so it is a big ask.
“He has shown that he likes soft tracks, and we would probably not run him if the track got firm, but he is there at the moment and obviously from the market has him a big chance of completing the dream.”
