Money is coming in for two of the three-year-olds in Saturday’s classic with updated 2016 Victoria Derby odds led by Sacred Elixir and market mover Swear.
Swear is one of the early 2016 Victoria Derby betting market movers for the Group 1 Flemington classic on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
A capacity Victoria Derby field is set to line-up in Flemington Race 7 this weekend, but only three of the hopefuls for the $1.5 million Group 1 over 2500m are under $10 for the win through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Recent history shows that the past three Victoria Derby winners all jumped at single-figures including Tarzino (2015) last year who was the first Derby favourite to salute for the punters since Efficient (2006).
This year’s Victoria Derby betting favourite is the well-ed Tony Pike-trained Kiwi Sacred Elixir.
The Pour Moi gelding opened at $3.50 in the post-field Victoria Derby odds, but has since been smashed by the punters into $3 after coming up trumps with barrier one.
The inside alley has produced two recent VRC Derby champions – Monaco Consul (2009) and Polanski (2013).
Recent form on the New Zealanders in the Melbourne Cup Carnival classic is also strong with Lion Tamer (2010) and Sangster (2011) enjoying back-to-back Victoria Derby wins for the Kiwis.
Last Saturday Sacred Elixir put his Derby claims on the line and saluted in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day.
He now shapes up as the one to beat over the extra meters fourth-up and peaking at Flemington.
There’s also been money coming for Swear in the Victoria Derby markets.
After opening at Derby odds of $12, the Team Hawkes-trained Redoute’s Choice colt has firmed right into $9.
Winner of the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) first-up in the mud, he has run twice since also in Sydney.
As yet unraced in Melbourne, Swear was last seen running only a half-length off Yankee Rose in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
Yankee Rose is now clear favourite in Crown Oaks betting having subsequently finished off the Cox Plate trifecta last weekend behind Winx and Melbourne Cup favourite Hartnell.
Swear is now tipped to further frank the Spring Champion Stakes form when he steps out in the big one this weekend.
The last of the single-figure fancies at $9.50 is the Robbie Laing-trained So Si Bon.
The Cranbourne-based Laing was on top in the Victoria Derby results three years ago when Polanski got the job done from barrier one.
He chases another win on the weekend with So Si Bon, a nicely-bred son of So You Think, backing up from a third to Sacred Elixir in the Vase.
On the quick back-up the horse benefits from the booking of three-time Victoria Derby winning jockey Hugh Bowman on Saturday.
Bowman rode Laing’s previous Derby winner after previous wins aboard the aforementioned Kiwi duo Lion Tamer and Sangster.
Most of the other Victoria Derby hopefuls have eased out in their price to score an upset, with the exception of the Chris Waller-trained Wine Bush ($26 into $21).
There have been plenty of roughie hopes getting up for a Derby win in recent years including Fiveandahalfstar ($40 in 2012).
Wine Bush is out to hand Waller a second trophy after his success with Preferment (2014) two years ago.
Two back the High Chaparral colt won at Flemington over 1800m before his fifth in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last time out.
See below for the updated Victoria Derby 2016 odds, betting open now at Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering all the best markets and offers across the Flemington race card this weekend.
