New Zealand filly Keep The Peace arrives in Sydney this week to take on the colts and geldings in the AJC Australian Derby.The winner of the New Zealand Oaks on March 20, Keep The Peace is trained by Shaune Ritchie and owned by former champion jockey Mick Dittman along with his son Luke and Queensland businessman Paul Bellingham.Keep The Peace completed a rare Classic double for Ritchie last month after Military Move won the New Zealand Derby.The decision by Military Move's Hong Kong owner Stev
New Zealand filly Keep The Peace arrives in Sydney this week to take on the colts and geldings in the AJC Australian Derby.
The winner of the New Zealand Oaks on March 20, Keep The Peace is trained by Shaune Ritchie and owned by former champion jockey Mick Dittman along with his son Luke and Queensland businessman Paul Bellingham.
Keep The Peace completed a rare Classic double for Ritchie last month after Military Move won the New Zealand Derby.
The decision by Military Move's Hong Kong owner Steven Lo to bypass Sydney helped sway Ritchie into running Keep The Peace in the Derby.
"We wouldn't have run them against each other but Military Move will go to Hong Kong for his future racing," Ritchie said.
"His aim is next season's Hong Kong Derby.
"I paid the late entry for Keep The Peace last week. Both Paul and Mick studied the form and thought the Derby might be easier than taking on those two fillies, Faint Perfume and Valdemoro.
"There seems to be a different winner among the colts each week."
The Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume beat Valdemoro in the VRC Oaks last spring and the result was the same again when they met in Saturday's Group One Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill.
Faint Perfume was among the Derby entries but Cummings said she would be saved for the Oaks and another clash with Valdemoro a week later.
Ritchie hasn't ruled out an Oaks start for Keep The Peace who has won four of her eight starts and been runner-up in three others.
"We'll see what happens in the Derby, it hasn't been ruled out," he said.
Keep The Peace is adept on firm or soft ground and Ritchie said she was also adaptable to different race tempos.
Ritchie said Jason Waddell, who was suspended when the NZ Oaks was run, would regain the ride in Sydney.
Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive is the $3.60 Derby favourite with Tab Sportsbet ahead of Rock Classic at $8 and Shoot Out at $8.
Military Move remains in the market at $15 while Keep The Peace has not yet been given a price.
Final acceptances and any more late entries for the Derby (2400m) will be taken on Tuesday with all other races to be declared on Wednesday.
The first day of the Australian Jockey Club's carnival features two other Group One races - the TJ Smith Stakes and the Sires' Produce Stakes for two-year-olds.