The time-honoured Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) steals the show in Melbourne on the weekend with a gun field of young stayers set to do battle in the stallion-making classic led in betting by the airborne El Castello who will have the outside alley to overcome.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off on Saturday with Derby Day at Flemington, a day for racing purists, and the 2024 Victoria Derby field is led by Anthony Cummings‘ star Castelvecchio colt El Castello chasing a fifth win on the trot.
After working his way through the grades quickly this prep, he came off a Group 3 Gloaming win to score victory for the punters at Randwick last weekend in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2500m).
He is now set for the quick back-up into the VRC Derby heading south on Saturday and looking to do the double for the first time since Ace High (2017).
Jockey Josh Parr continues associations chasing his first Derby victory, and El Castello remains top of the Victoria Derby odds at $3.60 through Ladbrokes.com.au despite drawing the extreme outside gate.
The widest gate to produce a Victoria Derby winner in the past 30 years is barrier 15 with Rebel Raider in 2008 for his upset at 100/1.
Nick Ryan‘s Red Aces is the other top contender for this year’s Derby according to the bookies with the last start Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase winning Dundeel colt looking for another win at $6.50 and firming after drawing barrier four.
Efficient (2006) was the last horse to complete the Moonee Valley Vase – VRC Derby double.
Tivaci gelding King Of Thunder also comes via a Vase lead-up run on Cox Plate Day when third beaten just 0.27 lengths in a photo finish with improvement pending as an $8 Derby hope.
Jockey James McDonald, who misses out on a ride in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup with the withdrawal of Via Sistina, partners King Of Thunder from barrier one in the Derby field.
The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Kenneland meanwhile is looking to win back the love of the punters after the Super Impose winner’s third as the beaten favourite in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day.
Hugh Bowman has the ride on the last of the single figure hopes at $9 from barrier 11.
The 2024 Penfolds Victoria Derby is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 4:20pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race card after which the official 2024 Melbourne Cup field and barriers are released.
Victoria Derby 2024 Odds & Results
Penfolds Victoria Derby (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
4. Goldrush Guru (13) J: Jamie Kah 57kg
T: Andrew Gluyas |
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|
2nd
13. Scary (7) J: Luke Nolen 57kg
T: Emma-Lee & David Browne |
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|
3rd
11. China Sea (6) J: Mark Zahra 57kg
T: J G Sargent |
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|
4th
6. Kingofwallstreet (8) J: Michael Dee 57kg
T: Matt Cumani |
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|
5th
1. El Castello (16) J: Josh Parr 57kg
T: Anthony Cummings |
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|
6th
2. Red Aces (3) J: Jamie Mott 57kg
T: Nick Ryan |
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|
7th
8. King Of Thunder (1) J: James McDonald 57kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
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|
8th
5. Saint Emilion (5) J: Tim Clark 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
9th
12. Hot Too Go (11) J: Jordan Childs 57kg
T: Danny O'Brien |
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|
10th
3. Keeneland (9) J: Hugh Bowman 57kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
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|
11th
7. Politely Dun (4) J: Damian Lane 57kg
T: Danny O'Brien |
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|
12th
9. Tenbury Wells (12) J: Blake Shinn 57kg
T: Brad Widdup |
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|
13th
15. West Indies (15) J: Craig Newitt 57kg
T: Mark Walker |
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|
14th
16. Autumnheat (10) J: Eoin Walsh 57kg
T: Matt Cumani |
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|
15th
10. Peru (2) J: Declan Bates 57kg
T: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson |
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|
16th
14. Oxford Blue (14) J: Ethan Brown 57kg
T: Julius Sandhu |
Data retrieved: 26/05/2025 11:51:31 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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