Numbers are up at nomination stage for the Victoria Derby 2016 with 106 three-year-old staying types making up the early entries for the Flemington classic this spring.
Group 1 winning New Zealand raider Sacred Elixir is one of the headline 2016 Victoria Derby nominations for the October 29 classic at Flemington Racecourse. Photo: Steve Hart.
Entries continue to grow for the $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m), running this Melbourne Cup Carnival on Saturday October 29, with nominations up from 2015 (97).
The VRC Derby along with the $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) for the three-year-old fillies both attracted the highest number of nominations since 2007.
One of the highest-profile VRC Derby entries likely to sit near the top of futures Victoria Derby betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Tony Pike-trained Kiwi raider Sacred Elixir.
The Pour Moi gelding won the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane during the winter and is nominated for a first-up run this weekend in Melbourne’s Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
Two New Zealand-trained youngsters have won the Victoria Derby in the past six years with Lion Tamer (2010) and Sangster (2011) going back-to-back.
Trainer of the former (Lion Tamer) Murray Baker is back in 2016 nominating for his undefeated High Chaparral gelding Highlad who he prepares in partnership with Andrew Forsman.
Another top-rated Group 1 winner in the VRC Derby mix is the James Cummings-trained Prized Icon.
The More Than Ready colt is best known for his Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) win at Randwick during the autumn, but he has been unplaced in his two subsequent runs this time in.
Cummings has a total of three entries with Prized Icon ed by stablemates Potent Force, and Group 2 winner Good Standing who ran fifth in both the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Golden Rose.
Last year’s VRC Derby winning trainer Mick Price (Tarzino) returns this season with four nominees: Rocketeer, Yu Long Sheng Hui, Northern Captain and Battle Order.
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes are also in with four Victoria Derby nominations.
Hall of Famer John Hawkes won the race back in 1998 with Arena and the stable’s charge this season is led by Divine Prophet.
The Choisir colt, third to Prized Icon in the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old, won the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) first-up in August before a close last start fourth to Astern in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10.
Team Hawkes’ other entries are: So You Think colt Inference, Sepoy colt Ready Fire Aim and the undefeated Swear who was last seen winning the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
Just two fillies are among this year’s VRC Derby nominations: the Anthony Cummings-trained Moqueen and the Lindsay Park-trained Harlow Gold.
Numbers-wise Robbie Laing, who prepared the 2013 winner Polanski, and John O’Shea headline the nominations with eight entries each.
O’Shea and the Godolphin charge is led by Flemington black-type winner Trenchant.
Other noteworthy nominees include the Ciaron Maher-trained Throssell, the Tony McEvoy-trained Hey Doc and Chris Waller’s Ming Dynasty runner-up High Mist.
The 2016 Victoria Derby first acceptances close on October 18.
See below for the full Victoria Derby 2016 nominations before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for access to all the season’s top Group 1 racing odds and offers.
2016 VRC Derby Nominations
Flemington Racecourse – 29/10/2016
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 803563 | ACE ATTACK | C | 3 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas |
| 2 | 7103×9 | ALL OUT OF LOVE | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 3 | 323 | ANAHEIM | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 4 | 61359 | BACK TO THE BOWLER | G | 3 | Stuart Webb |
| 5 | 428×1 | BATTLE ORDER | G | 3 | Mick Price |
| 6 | 26×6 | BEACH LIFE | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 7 | 7 | BEDFORD (NZ) | G | 3 | Lee & Anthony Freedman |
| 8 | 846×62 | BETCHA THINKING | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 9 | 697×6 | BLUE SEAL | G | 3 | David Payne |
| 10 | 7415×96 | CAPTAIN DUFFY | C | 3 | Phillip Stokes |
| 11 | 16127 | CASTA | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 12 | 5 | CHARLTON | C | 3 | Robbie Griffiths |
| 13 | 15410 | COBBMORE | G | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 14 | 012 | COONAWARRA | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 15 | 6x356x | CRIMSON HALO | G | 3 | David Payne |
| 16 | – | CRYPTO PEER ROCKS | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 17 | 00 | DELIGHTFUL SPIRIT | C | 3 | Peter White |
| 18 | 5x13x14 | DIVINE PROPHET | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 19 | 5 | ERCOLANO (NZ) | G | 3 | Tony Gollan |
| 20 | 10 | EUREKA STREET | C | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
| 21 | – | EVELYN | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 22 | 2x105x95 | GOOD STANDING | C | 3 | James Cummings |
| 23 | 3×611 | HARLOW GOLD (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 24 | – | HELLMAN | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 25 | 11 | HE’S THE BOSS | G | 3 | Matt Laurie |
| 26 | 1240×11 | HEY DOC | G | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 27 | 8×164221 | HIGH MIST | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 28 | 11 | HIGHLAD | G | 3 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 29 | 8×535 | HOLLYWOOD MO | C | 3 | Paul Perry |
| 30 | 5×51 | HONEYWINE | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 31 | 83729×82 | HOOKFANG | G | 3 | Cameron Templeton |
| 32 | 4×266 | HUSSOR | G | 3 | Robbie Griffiths |
| 33 | 41×4 | I’M TELLING YA | C | 3 | Amy Johnston |
| 34 | 21×11 | INFERENCE | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 35 | 4 | JAMIESON | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 36 | 213 | KACHING | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 37 | 63 | KALALO | G | 3 | Matthew Brown |
| 38 | 2x21x62 | KENT | G | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 39 | 39 | KHARTOUM | C | 3 | Pat Carey |
| 40 | – | KNOCK TOFF | G | 3 | Lee & Anthony Freedman |
| 41 | 9015 | LARRIKIN | C | 3 | Brian McGrath |
| 42 | 36×16337 | LORD MACAU | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 43 | 5 | LORD RESET | G | 3 | Greg Eurell |
| 44 | 5×1 | MANDALAY BAY | G | 3 | Matt Laurie |
| 45 | 1112 | MANHATTAN STREET | C | 3 | Lisa Latta |
| 46 | 1x | MILWAUKEE | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 47 | 8×20241 | MISSILE BOOM | C | 3 | John McArdle |
| 48 | 312x | MONGOLIAN FALCON | C | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 49 | 438×5435 | MOQUEEN | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings |
| 50 | 6x7431x2 | MORVADA | G | 3 | Peter Jolly |
| 51 | 31 | MR ALOOF | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 52 | 02 | MUTINEER | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 53 | 542 | NEMRUD | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 54 | – | NOBLE TRUTH | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings |
| 55 | 7×4 | NORTHERN CAPTAIN | G | 3 | Mick Price |
| 56 | 3911 | OCULIST | G | 3 | John Sargent |
| 57 | 42715 | ODEON (NZ) | C | 3 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra |
| 58 | 23 | PABLO’S EXPRESS | G | 3 | Greg Eurell |
| 59 | 5 | PARADISE COVE (USA) | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 60 | 2×721 | PERFECT SEASON | C | 3 | Bjorn Baker |
| 61 | 1×5 | PETER JOHN (NZ) | G | 3 | John Sargent |
| 62 | 2x | POLEMIC | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 63 | 2 | POSITIVE CARRY (NZ) | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 64 | 9×2 | POTENT FORCE | G | 3 | James Cummings |
| 65 | 9×0 | PRINCE CHABAL | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings |
| 66 | x323211x46 | PRIZED ICON | C | 3 | James Cummings |
| 67 | 528×9 | PROFUSIVE (NZ) | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 68 | 7×703 | READY FIRE AIM | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 69 | – | REATA | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 70 | 744×531 | RESORT | G | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 71 | 1×13 | RETALIATION | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 72 | 413×656 | REVOLVING DOOR | C | 3 | Clinton McDonald |
| 73 | 8 | RISING RED (NZ) | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 74 | 6×5122 | ROCKETEER | G | 3 | Mick Price |
| 75 | – | ROYAL ORDER | C | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 76 | 94 | RULE OF THREE | G | 3 | Nathan Hobson |
| 77 | 216x161x | SACRED ELIXIR (NZ) | G | 3 | Tony Pike |
| 78 | 8986x | SCREAMARR | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings |
| 79 | 1216×45 | SEABURGE | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 80 | 09 | SHINE TAK STAR | G | 3 | John Sargent |
| 81 | 11 | SILVERA | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 82 | 4×45 | SMOOTH WHISKEY | G | 3 | Lee & Anthony Freedman |
| 83 | 26×1 | SO SI BON | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 84 | 2345 | STATELY BOY | G | 3 | Shea Eden |
| 85 | 809x | STORNAWAY | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 86 | 2622×1 | STYLEMAN | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 87 | 1×1 | SWEAR | C | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 88 | 2 | TED (NZ) | G | 3 | Stuart Kendrick |
| 89 | 673×225 | THE INFORMER | C | 3 | Heath Conners |
| 90 | 500x | THE PERFECT CROP (NZ) | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 91 | 5×22 | THEANSWERMYFRIEND | G | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
| 92 | 11×33 | THROSSELL | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 93 | 81 | TOORAK TOWER | G | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 94 | 9311×9 | TRENCHANT | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 95 | 57 | TSUBAME | G | 3 | Paul Cave |
| 96 | 51546 | TUMULTUOUS | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 97 | 81 | TURF TAPPER | G | 3 | Bjorn Baker |
| 98 | 6 | ULTIMATE WEAPON | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 99 | 634×11 | VELADERO | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 100 | 221 | VOLATILE MIX (NZ) | G | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 101 | 8×63 | WIMBORNE | C | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 102 | 30×7 | WINE | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
| 103 | 73×37 | WINE BUSH | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 104 | 11×0 | YU LONG SHENG HUI | C | 3 | Mick Price |
| 105 | 41 | ZIJIN CHENG | C | 3 | Bjorn Baker |
| 106 | 06×53 | ZOFFMAN | G | 3 | Aaron Purcell |
