FEATURE PREVIEWS: VICTORIA DERBY

Track: Flemington | Distance: 2500m | Type: G1 3YO SW | Rail Position: True | Track Condition: Good 4 | Predicted Track Condition: Good 4 | Prizemoney: $2,000,000

3yo staying classic won by the likes of Riff Rocket, Hitotsu, Warning, Ace High, Prized Icon, Tarzino, Preferment and Sangster.

3rd up (1/4), 4th up (1/43), 5th up (5/75), 6th up (5/54), 7th up (1/18), 8th up+ (0/11)
7-day break (5/56), 10-day break (1/53), 14-day break (5/66), 21-day break (1/13), 28-day break (1/5)
Gear Change (7/74)
Career Starts 2-4 (0/45), 5-6 (8/79), 7-10 (2/73), 11-14 (3/8)
Career Wins 0-1 (5/122), 2-3 (8/83)
Barriers 1-7 (10/91), Barriers 8-10 (2/39), 11+ (1/75)
Colt (8/121), Gelding (5/84)
C Waller (3/7)
Last Start NSW (3/21)
Tab Number 1-7 (11/89), 8+ (2/116)
Average prizemoney per start $10k+ (10 winners)
Total Prizemoney $60k+ (11/112), Under $60k (1/77)
Only 2 have won in their first race prep. Trained by Maher & Waller

Above average speed here expected with the likes of West Indies, Keeneland, Hot Too Go, Autumnheat, Oxford Blue and El Castello, plus emergencies War Ribbon and Cecchetti. Much of the speed is drawn wide so will need to get across.
Tenbury Wells, China Sea, Red Aces & Goldrush Guru can race forward of midfield.
King Of Thunder, Saint Emilion, Peru, Scary & Kingofwallstreet worse than midfield.
Politely Dun out the back.

1. El Castello – Has been impressive every run this campaign, winning all 4 starts this prep including the G1 Spring Champion Stakes last start. Rates well but wide gate makes it tough.

2. Red Aces – Won the G2 Vase last start when had a lovely run behind the speed. Had every chance in a slow tempo race. Does map well here.

3. Keeneland – Impressed winning the Super Impose then a close 3rd beaten a long neck in a slowly run Norman Robinson. Bred to run the trip a Bowman aboard.

4. Goldrush Guru – Won the Hill Smith Stakes by 2.1L in good time last start.

5. Saint Emilion – Won the Geelong Classic last start by 1.8L in slow time. In first prep but hard to ever deny a chance to a Maher runner in a staying race.

6. Kingofwallstreet – In first prep having just 4th start but won the G3 Norman Robinson by a nose last start.

7. Politely Dun – Having his 8th run of the prep. Has plenty of miles in the legs and has been consistent every start, including a solid 4th after settling back in a slowly run affair in the Vase last start.

8. King Of Thunder – In first prep but hit the line hardest for 3rd beaten a neck in the Vase last start. J Mac aboard.

9. Tenbury Wells – Won 2 in a row at Kembla in good time, then a solid 5th in the G3 Gloaming. Not out of it.

11. China Sea – Ran 2nd beaten a nose in the G3 Norman Robinson and Zahra hops aboard here.

17. War Ribbon – Has raced consistently well in provincial grade this prep, and won C1 at Newcastle last start by 4L over 2260m although did overrace. Should stay the trip and maps nicely.

3.Keeneland
17.War Ribbon
7.Politely Dun
1.El Castello