Preferment outstayed Bondeiger and Nozomi to break his maiden with a tough win in the 2014 Victoria Derby at Flemington this afternoon.
Jockey Damien Oliver had trouble finding a position close to the rail in the early stages of the race, but the Zabeel colt was able to track Magicool into the race coming into the straight and he was too strong in the final 100 metres for Bondeiger.
The Victoria Derby win was the first for leading trainer Chris Waller, who took out the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) with Brazen Beau earlier in the day, while Damien Oliver was celebrating his fifth Victoria Derby win after previously taking out the race with Redding (1992), Amalfi (2001), Elvstroem (2003) and Fiveandahalfstar (2012).
The 2014 Victoria Derby results will not be known for another four hours and there is still plenty of time to back the winner of the Group 1 event at Flemington this afternoon.
Hampton Court is a clear favourite in 2014 Victoria Derby betting markets. Photo by: Steve Hart
Hampton Court is a clear favourite in 2014 Victoria Derby betting markets and he has been backed into odds of $2.50 to deliver trainer Gai Waterhouse her first win in the race since Nothin’ Leica Dane took out the 1995 edition of the race.
The Redoute’s Choice colt has performed well in each of his race starts during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he stamped himself as the clear favourite for the Victoria Derby by scoring a tough staying victory in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 11.
Chris Waller-trained Preferment has been on the drift in Victoria Derby betting markets, but he remains on the second line of betting at a quote of $7.
Preferment was denied wins at Warwick Farm on September 10 and October 8 as well as Canterbury on September, but he was well-backed in Victoria Derby betting after he flashed home late to finish second in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on October 22.
Waller admits that Preferment is a very immature horse who is still trying to wrap his head around racing, but he is hoping that the application of winkers will help the Zabeel colt focus on the job at hand this afternoon.
One of the best-backed runners in the 2014 Victoria Derby field has been Danny O’Brien-trained Bondeiger, who is into a quote of $8.50 after opening at $11 earlier in the week.
Bondeiger recorded tough wins in the Market Square Shopping Handicap (1435m) at Geelong on September 26 and the Champagne Pommery Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 15 before he ran impressive closing sectionals in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) last Saturday.
Moonovermanhattan took out the Moonee Valley Vase last weekend and he has received some support in betting to deliver trainer Mick Price his maiden win in the Victoria Derby.
The Manhattan Rain colt scored a tough on-pace win in the Moonee Valley Vase, but Price admits that he is concerned about the three-year-old running out a strong 2500 metres.
One of the most interesting runners is the Victoria Derby field is Atmosphere, who is currently available at a quote of $11 to give trainer Trent Busuttin a second win in the Victoria Derby after he took out the 2011 edition of the race with Sangster.
Atmosphere is yet to record a race win, but he finished second in both the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 4 and the Moonee Valley Vase and he looks as though he will relish the step-up to 2500 metres.
The 2014 Victoria Derby will be run at Flemington at 3.45 (AEDT) this afternoon and you will be able to find all the Victoria Derby results at horseracing.com.au.
