He was the baby of the field at just 22 months and the least experienced finalist after just nine previous races but Ritza Tears proved too good for his rivals in Saturday night's group one NSW GBOTA National Derby final at Wentworth Park.
Trained by Mark Gatt for his father Frank Gatt, who had trained Hahn Bale to win the 1999 National Derby, Ritza Tears gave tearaway leader Freight Express a massive start at the half-way mark but stormed home to win by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite King Of Gods was the unlucky runner, jumping smartly from box three but after being beaten for early pace by a rival on his left, was badly checked at the first turn.
King Of Gods rattled home to finish third, just two lengths behind the winner.
Ritza Tears covered the 520m in 29.88, well outside the race record of 29.47 set by SA's Victa Damian in 2023.
National Derby winner Ritza Tears (middle) with trainer Mark Gatt with second placegetter Freight Express (left) and third placegetter King Of Gods (rightt)
Ritza Tears' win was a consolation for team Gatt as the dog's litter sister Ritza Tiana was a luckless third in Saturday night's group one NSW GBOTA National Futurity final.
After being slowly away from box four and sixth on the back straight, Ritza Tiana flashed home to beat all but Magic Bandit and Magical Ang.
Jodie and Andy Lord trained Nulkaba Lass to win the Futurity in 2004 and Magic Bandit came out running from box one and led clearly before being tackled by the Peter Lagogiane-trained Magical Ang at the top of the straight.
Magical Ang hit the front near the finish but Magic Bandit came again to win by a head in 29.89, well outside Laura Keeping's 29.66 race record set in 2025.
National Futurity winner Magic Bandit (middle) with Magical Ang (second and left) and Ritza Tiana (third and right)
"It was a week too late,'' lamented trainer Steve Fitch after his bitch Eriza Sparkles took out Saturday's top grade 520m event in a scorching 29.32.
Eriza Sparkles had been sent out a $1.65 favourite for her National Futurity heat on January 24 but was runner-up to Magical Ang.
"Eriza Sparkles had box two last week and when she has an inside box and gets crowded she wants to push off,'' Fitch said.
"That's what happened last week and she looked more at home from box seven tonight when she led all the way.
"Eriza Sparkles tends to jump best from boxes five, six and seven, because she holds a straight line to the first corner.''
Fitch had a night to remember as Cumbria Benny, a litter brother to his top class speedster Cumbria Jack, led throughout in a personal best 29.45 when taking out a 520m fourth and fifth grade on Saturday night.
Most remarkable win of all on Saturday was arguably the all-the-way performance by Blazing Force, who was having his first start in 294 days when he led all the way in a 520m fifth grade.
Trained by Preston Rowles, Blazing Force led clearly but tired near the line, hanging on to win by a head from Ritzy Ethics.
It is a miracle that Blazing Force is racing at all, as he has had a succession of injury setbacks which have kept him away from the track.
And while he faded in the straight on Saturday night that was understandable as the dog had not had a hit-out since trialling at Goulburn on January 23.
Saturday's top grade Masters race was won by the Charlie Gatt-trained Angelo, who led all the way for his 21st success, defeating the Mark Gatt-trained Sammy Ethan, a new addition to the veterans' ranks, by two lengths.
