The Patrick Payne-trained Cherry Tortoni has drawn the outside alley in a 14-horse Victoria Derby 2020 field for the $2 million three-years-old staying feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Cherry Tortoni has drawn the outside barrier in the 2020 VRC Derby field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Group 1 $2 million AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) headlines the bumper race card on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and sees Cherry Tortoni on the quick back-up off his Cox Plate Day victory.
The Night Of Thunder gelding was impressive taking out the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) and is at current VRC Derby odds on the final field at Ladbrokes.com.au of $6 to complete the double for the first time since Efficient (2006).
Clear favourite in updated Victoria Derby betting markets at $3 is the Danny O’Brien-trained Young Werther who was withdrawn from the Vase last weekend due to a soft track in order to be kept fresh for this weekend’s major.
The lightly-raced son of Tavistock has just his third career start in the Derby and was last seen running second to Khoekhoe in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 3.
It will be a training masterstroke from O’Brien should the well-ed favourite salute in the VRC Derby on Saturday with Young Werther yet to race over further than 1800m, with Damien Oliver retaining the ride.
O’Brien will saddle-up three horses in the VRC Derby field chasing his first victory in the time-honoured classic with Young Werther ed by stablemates Cetshwayo and the rails-drawn Kenzan.
It shapes-up as a wide-open edition of the Victoria Derby this season with the remaining three single-figure fancies coming off the winning trifecta from the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on October 17.
Caulfield Classic winner Albarado will again face off against Let’s Karaka Deel (2nd) and Hit The Shot (3rd) with the trio all stepping-up in distance for their rematch at HQ.
Mark Zahra retains the ride on the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Savabeel colt Albarado who is at $8 to salute, while Let’s Karaka Deel is at $7 and the Matt Cumani-trained Hit The Shot $7.50.
Drawn near the rails in barrier three, Dundeel col Let’s Karaka Deel hails from the stables of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace who won last weekend’s Cox Plate with the imported Sir Dragonet.
Click here for the updated Victoria Derby 2020 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 Victoria Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111×3271 | CHERRY TORTONI | Patrick Payne | Billy Egan | 14 | 57kg | ||
| 2 | 12×3831 | ALBARADO (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Mark Zahra | 8 | 57kg | ||
| 3 | 032943 | JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ) | Denis Pagan | Lachlan King (a) | 5 | 57kg | ||
| 4 | 2102 | LET’S KARAKA DEEL (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 3 | 57kg | ||
| 5 | 12 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Damien Oliver | 4 | 57kg | ||
| 6 | 1843 | HIT THE SHOT | Matt Cumani | Fred W Kersley | 9 | 57kg | ||
| 7 | 816 | CETSHWAYO | Danny O’Brien | Jamie Kah | 10 | 57kg | ||
| 8 | 314 | REDWOOD SHADOW (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jye McNeil | 12 | 57kg | ||
| 9 | 6×1760 | WERTHEIMER (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 57kg | ||
| 10 | 2×7625 | TOUR OF DUTY | Michael Moroney | James McDonald | 13 | 57kg | ||
| 11 | 8174 | TOKEN SPIRIT |
Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Damian Lane | 11 | 57kg | ||
| 12 | 5×00501 | BORN TO SUCCEED | Saab Hasan | Michael Walker | 7 | 57kg | ||
| 13 | 4525 | WISAKA | Michael Moroney | Ben Melham | 2 | 57kg | ||
| 14 | 7427 | KENZAN | Danny O’Brien | Daniel Moor | 1 | 57kg |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
