Pencarrow-bred Martial Art (Tiger Hill x Kwan, by Sadler’s Wells) was taken to the home of the Group 1 NZ Derby, Ellerslie Racecourse, on Saturday to contest the Auckland Airport Three-Year-Old over 1600m.

The three-year-old gelding strolled around the bird-cage as a short-priced favourite, after his demolition of opposition by five lengths last start at New Plymouth, and punters where not disappointed when Martial Art rocketed home from second-last on the turn to snare his second consecutive victory.

Raced by Pencarrow’s Peter and Philip Vela, along with Mark Wyborn and Trevor Farmer, Martial Art is nominated for the $2,000,000 Group 1 Telecom NZ Derby in March, and is eligible for the $200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile, 31 Januray 2010, which is raced over the same course and distance as his latest victory.

Judged a $31 shot in the TAB’s opening futures odds for the NZ Derby, Martial Art is sure to come in a few points, in a market headed by Monaco Consul, after his half-length victory over Green Cash (King’s Chapel).

The derby contender, who was purchased by David Ellis for $250,000 at Karaka Premier, is the first winner for his dam Kwan, a half-sister to three stakes winners including Group 1 Ascot Fillies Mile winner Fairy Heights (Fairy King).

Kwan foaled a bay filly by Reset this spring and visits, like Tiger Hill, another Group 1 producing son of Danehill in Keeper.