There have been two memorable moments, so far, for Roger James with New Zealand Derby winner Road To Paris.
One was the storming win to give James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood these days, a seventh New Zealand Derby trophy a month ago in front of a massive Ellerslie crowd, which set him on the path to Randwick for the Australian equivalent on Saturday.
The other, was something James has rarely experienced, at Otaki last November, when the son of Circus Maximus veered out and dropped the rider in the final 20 metres of the Wellington Stakes with the race won.
“That was gutting. I’m still gutted about it now,” James said. “He is a bit quirky, and he just got it wrong.
“Thanks for bringing that up, I had almost forgotten it after the Derby.”
AMMIRATI is SW153 from 1405 rnrs for Savabeel in the Gr3 Wellington Stakes & his 20th o/o a Pins mare
3/4 bro to LRwGr3p Exuberant
Safe to say Road To Paris (Circus Maximus) the unlucky loser😵💫@marshracing @MattCartwrigh14 @ElsdonPark @KarakaChat @Bpbloodstock @WaikatoStud pic.twitter.com/wSzLMftVFf
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) November 30, 2025
On that day, Road To Paris sent the field scattering, with racecaller Justin Evans capturing the moment.
“It’s Road To Paris in front. He said au revoir,” Evans described, but the call changed in a second.
“Oh, he has run out, he’s dropped the rider. Oh my goodness.”
Road To Paris was a little wayward in the straight in his New Zealand Derby and had to survive a protest from stablemate Autumn Glory after laying in several horses in the final 100m.
James was never concerned the protest would be upheld, Road To Paris was simply the stronger in the charge to the line.
“He is the perfect mile-and-a-half horse. He relaxes wherever you want him to and then quickens, which you don’t find too often,” James said.
“He has always been strong late, and the Derby was best he has been. But he needs to learn to go straight.
”He was never going to lose that race but it’s something you don’t need to happen.”
James is a brilliant trainer of stayers, as his record of New Zealand Derby winners shows, and identified Road To Paris early on.
He believes Road To Paris is his best hope of breaking the Australian Derby duck after he came from second last at the 800m mark in the New Zealand Derby, rounding the field to win going away.
“As a two-year-old I marked him as a Derby prospect because he always looked like that [2400m] was when he would be at his best,” James said.
“He is definitely above average, and I would say he is still a bit untapped because he has to learn to go straight.
“It was a very good win in the Derby, not many could do what he did, so we come over here with confidence knowing he will run the trip.”
The win grabbed the attention of Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton, who rides on the first day of The Championships. James was delighted to put him on Road To Paris.
“They chased the ride, and when you have one of the best two or three jockeys in the world wanting to ride your horse, it gives you confidence,” James said. “They do their form and know more about it than we do and Zac was very keen, so you just don’t say no when that happens.”
