On Saturday, Niels Petersen recorded his first ever victory in the Jydsk Derby, and Elkær Stutteri their first since their homebred Singita triumphed in 2003, as Acapulco Sunrise, in just the third start of his life, won easily by two lengths from Go Go Flame and No Surrender.
Acapulco Sunrise had made the longest journey of all 12 runners in the Jutland Derby field, but the trip from Øvrevoll to Jydsk Væddeløbsbane never posed a problem for the Almanzor son, who spent the winter under the warm skies of Dubai.
The chestnut colt was last out of the stalls under Carlos Lopez, and the pair did not enjoy an entirely smooth passage over the 2,150 metres on the Aarhus oval either.
Down the back straight, however, Lopez had positioned his horse right behind Lea Olsen’s Swedish 1000 Guineas winner Zarina (Appel Au Maitre), and there the Norwegian-trained challenger stayed until the home straight.
First into the straight was Bent Olsen’s Swedish 2000 Guineas winner No Surrender (Giant Sandman), seeking to follow in the hoofprints of his big brother King Ferdinand with a Jydsk Derby victory. No Surrender initially fought off Makaveli (Sands Of Mali) on the inside, but then Go Go Flame (Go Go Gadget) emerged on the outside for Nicolaj Stott.
In the middle of the track, Zarina was launched into her challenge by Oliver Wilson, and for a brief second the race looked wide open.
And then it was all settled in the space of a few strides, as Acapulco Sunrise was sent forward between the two Guineas winners and quickly gained the decisive upper hand.
Acapulco Sunrise crossed the line two lengths clear of Go Go Flame, who just managed to squeeze past No Surrender, with Zarina and Makaveli following in the final prize-earning positions.
The first prize in the Sparekassen Kronjylland Jydsk Derby 2025 was worth DKK 255,000 to Ingermarie and Thorkild Møller Nielsen’s Elkær Stutteri, and as mentioned in the introduction it was the couple’s first victory in the biggest race in the provinces since their homebred mare Singita (Diaghlyphard) won the contest in 2003.
Elkær Stutteri bought their newly crowned Jutland Derby winner as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland, where Niels Petersen and agent Edgar Byrne together secured the hammer.
Acapulco Sunrise is a half-brother to four winners and out of the dual winner Dayita (Dansili), herself a half-sister to the great champions and stallions Daylami (Doyoun) and Dalakhani (Darshaan), from one of the Aga Khan’s proudest bloodlines.
“We have always had the Jydsk Derby in mind for him,” Niels Petersen told GalopSport after the horse shed his maiden tag over 2,200 metres at Klampenborg at the end of May. Before that, he had made his debut over 1,600 metres with a third place behind No Surrender and Go Go Flame – on whom he took his revenge this Saturday in Aarhus.
With the first big goal of his career in the bag, Petersen and Elkær Stutteri can now look ahead to the next one, which will be the Norsk Derby at his home track Øvrevoll on 24 August.
“He will probably get one more start in the meantime, but so far everything has gone to plan. He was in Dubai to train and mature over the winter, and after his debut over 1,600 metres he was stepped up in distance. He has now won twice over roughly 2,200 metres, and the extra 200 metres will not be a problem either – if anything, an advantage,” said a delighted Niels Petersen after his first victory in the Jydsk Derby.
More from the races on Jutland Derby Day to follow.
