FEATURE PREVIEWS: AUSTRALIAN DERBY

Track: Randwick | Distance: 2400m | Condition: SW | Rail Position: True | Condition: Heavy 9 | Prizemoney: $2,000,000

Heavy rain forecast Thursday to Saturday.

Won in recent years by Hitotsu, Quick Thinker, Jon Snow, Tavago, Mongolian Khan, Criterion, It’s A Dundeel and Ethopia.

Historical Profiling (last 12 years)

• 2^nd up (1/1), 3^rd up (0/8), 4^th up (3/52), 5^th up (6/53), 6^th up+ (2/60)
• 7-day break (5/55), 14-day break (3/74), 16-day break (1/4), 28-29-day break (3/9)
• Settled 1st-3rd (4), Settled 5^th-9^th (5), Settled 12^th-15^th (3)
• Colts (8/70), Geldings (4/101), Fillies (0/3)
• Barrier 1-9 (10/108), Barrier 10-18 (2/66)
• Betfair Exchange SP Rank 1-4 (7/48), 5-8 (4/48), 9+ (1/78)
• Jockey same as last start Yes (8/76), No (3/80)
• Gear Changes (0/34)
• Last Start Finishing Position 1 (7/33), 2 (3/30), 3-6 (2/71), 7+ (0/40)
• Same Jockey Last Start No (3/91), Yes (9/83)
• Starts at today’s distance 0 (8/136), 1 (4/38)

Starts at Randwick 0 (9/107), 1+ (3/67)

Ganbare & Zenmaster set a strong tempo in front with Adagio and Saxon Brave in behind.

Wymark must try and cross over from the wide gate, as does Immediacy.

Glad You Think So, Cap Ferrat, Tom Kitten & Ceowulf in the next group.

Zardozi, Noisy Boy, Riff Rocket & Hooligan Tommy out the back.

1. Riff Rocket – VRC Derby winner in the Spring and Rosehill Guineas winner last start. Has the right profile.

2. Tom Kitten – Dominant Spring Champion winner last prep. Was disappointing in the Rosehill Guineas last start. Can stay and handles the wet.

3. Ceolwulf – Was a solid 2nd last start in the Rosehill Guineas. Place chance.

4. Cap Ferrat – Ran 2nd in the Spring Champion and was a solid 3rd in the Rosehill Guineas last start. Should stick on again here.

5. Ganbare – Ran 3rd in the Spring Champion last prep setting a strong tempo but was 4th in the Rosehill Guineas last prep with a soft lead. Can make this a tough testing 2400m and can run out the trip.

7. Wymark – Just keeps winning and fits the right profile of an ATC Derby winner coming off a Tulloch Stakes win into the quick backup here on a wet track. Wide gate is a shame.

14. Zardozi – Bolted in to win the VRC Oaks last prep with better figures than Riff Rocket’s VRC Derby win. Bolted in to win the Phar Lap Stakes two starts ago, then was a good 3rd to Orchestral last start. Quick back up suits and handles the wet. The one to beat. The only concerning element is she has raced 3 times at Randwick and tailed off every time.

Keen on Zardozi as the best stayer in the race. The only concern is her awful record in all her 3 runs at Randwick.

Wymark profiles nicely off the quick backup which has proven very successful in this race historically. Will need to slot in without doing too much work from the wide gate.

Ganbare can lead and prove difficult to run down.

Riff Rocket, Tom Kitten & Cap Ferratt also have claims.

14 – Zardozi
7 – Wymark
5 – Ganbare
2 – Riff Rocket
2 – Tom Kitten
4. Cap Ferrat

BACK 14 – Zardozi 1.0w

BACK 7 – Wymark 0.5w

BACK 5 – Ganbare 0.5w

Units Outlayed: 391.9

Units Returned: 410.1

Profit On Turnover: 4.7%