Teenage Champion - Go for Gold!

Alcoholic horse trainer Bill Cobbs sees a great steeplechase rider in the unmotivated Zach Efron and trains him for the local derby.

It's the same sort of movie that has been made at least a couple of hundred times. It's filled with many of the incidents, like death, uncertain parents, the competitor who cheats, the decision not to compete, the last minute change of heart, et c. Etc. Clearly this is inended for the Young Adult market, the kids who have never seen any of these before. So it can be assessed pretty much on a checklist. The performances are good, especially Cobbs, one of those "plant your feet, look the other guy in the eye, and tell the truth" performers Visually it's a mix of ridiculous set design -- I've never seen stables that pristine, and I helped build one --and the camerawork is okay. It's one of those movies where you know exactly what is going to happen, and that's ok.

One of Zac Efron's earliest films before he became a Disney "it" boy through the High School Musical series was this film which casts him as a would be baseball player who likes horses. It's with horses that his passion lies much to the disappointment of his coach and father William R. Moses. When he gets beaned in a pickup game he clearly has not got his head in the game.

The Derby Stallion is a nice film though some I'm sure will notice that this is a horseback version of The Karate Kid. Efron forms a friendship with old retired trainer Bill Cobbs who used to train all kinds of horses and even has bought a horse from a rich landowner who was getting rid of him anyway as the horse did not live up to promise. But i's possible he did not get the right training or rider.

Cobbs is the Mr. Miyagi (Patrick Morita) part. The villain or William Zabka role belongs to Michael Nardelli a spoiled rich kid whose father was the one who gave up on the horse Cobbs trains and Efron rides.

The Derby Stallion is a nice family film even though the makers of The Karate Kid could sue.

i love this film so much it has a great story line and the actors are amazing.it helped that the film had Zack Efron in because he is a talented actor who recently the lead in high school musical i gave this film 10/10 because it was amazing and i dint want 2 blink because i did not want 2 miss a second of it i also thought that the film was heart warming and it made me see a whole new side of Zack's acting skills i no that i cant wait to see him in his new film hairspray because if it is as good as this it will be at the top of the charts the only downside to this film is that Crystal Hunt who plays Jill Overton got 2 kiss Zack i was so Jealous if only i lived in America i would of auditioned for that part but i live in england for now

Cute fifteen-year-old Zac Efron (as Patrick McCardle) doesn't have friends his own age. He skips baseball practice to spend time with boozing horse enthusiast mentor Bill Cobbs (as Houston Jones). In flashbacks, Mr. Cobbs recounts his love for a wealthy white woman, and a passion for horses; his doomed romance led Cobbs to alcoholism. Parents William R. Moses and Tonja Walker (as Jim and Linda) don't like Mr. Efron's close relationship with the older man; especially, Mr. Moses wants his son to play baseball like his dad. Efron doesn't know much, but "I know horses like me." He decides to join the horse races, with Cobbs as trainer.

Be advised, there is heartbreak ahead for Efron!

Efron is less affected (and made-up) than in "High School Musical" performances, which is a plus. He passes for a mature fifteen, but doesn't show much prowess as an actor. The prerequisite bully and pretty girl roles are adequately filled by coolly-coiffed Michael Nardelli (as Randy Adams) and lightly-tressed Crystal Hunt (as Jill Overton). Cobbs adroitly makes the most of his predictable character role. And, ailing musician Billy Preston has one of his last gigs. "The Derby Stallion" gallops with missteps and continuity problems, obviously enhanced by budget restrictions. Filmmakers found a great semi-circular tree for a background shot.

*** The Derby Stallion (7/4/05) Craig Clyde ~ Zac Efron, Bill Cobbs, Crystal Hunt, William R. Moses

I was on the set - even an extra - no I did not get paid - but the story is good and the actors are great. It's a movie folks. All the people behind the scenes worked hard, as well as all of the actors. And yes, Rusty is Rusty in all of the scenes. Contact Zion Farms if you do not believe me. And yes, the actors rode the horses as well. I heard that the main actors cowboy'ed the horses better than those of us who never rode horses before. It's a feel good movie - don't dissect it. Enjoy it. Three Billy's - how can you go wrong - sorry that Billy Preston could only be there for a short bit - but he wasn't feeling well.