Capacity Victoria Derby Field Released

The 2015 Victoria Derby field has been released and a capacity 16 three-year-olds are set to contest the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington on Saturday.

Tarzino is set to start the 2015 Victoria Derby as a dominant favourite. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tarzino is set to start the 2015 Victoria Derby as a dominant favourite. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tarzino has showed plenty of staying promise during his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he is set to start the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) as a dominant favourite.

The Tavistock colt made his racing debut with a green performance at Pakenham on July 5 and he recorded his first race win at Ballarat on August 27 before he showed his staying promise with a fast-finishing win in The Cove Hotel Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on September 19.

Tarzino was far from disgraced when he finished seventh behind Press Statement in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 and he produced the perfect Victoria Derby trial when he hit the line strongly to finish third behind Jameka and Shards in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2400m) on Saturday.

The Moonee Valley Vase is set to be one of the key lead-up races for the Victoria Derby as Shards and Red Alto are both set to back-up in the Group 1 event this weekend.

The Group 3 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic (2000m) is another race that is always a key lead-up to the Victoria Derby and the 2015 edition of the race will be no exception.

The likes of Lizard Island, Etymology, Get The Picture, Ayers Rock, Scadden’s Run and Iron Boss were unable to beat talented filly Sacred Eye in the Group 3 event, but they will have the chance to return to winning form this weekend.

Extra Choice outstayed his rivals to record an impressive win in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on October 21 and that will be another key form reference for the Victoria Derby as the likes of Jadeer, Pay Up Bro and Colonel Custer will all be given the chance to turn-the-tables on their rival.

Easily the most interesting horse in the 2015 Victoria Derby field is Western Australian galloper Kia Ora Koutou, who has recorded four race wins from as many starts this preparation.

Kia Ora Koutou made his racing debut with a win at Pinjarra on August 27 and he claimed another tough victory in the Westspeed Plate (1400m) at Belmont Park on September 5 before he took out a similar race at the same venue on September 19.

The Blackfriars gelding was given the chance to show off his staying credentials in the Crown Perth Handicap (2200m) at Belmont Park on October 3 and he did enough to convince trainer Adam Durrant that he was worthy of a trip to Melbourne for the Victoria Derby.

The 2015 Victoria Derby field is rounded out by Spring Champion Stakes placegetter Man Of Choice and last start winner Palace Tycoon, while Lindsay Park-trained Bullish Stock is currently the first emergency.

You can score the best Victoria Derby odds with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote or Starting Price +20% for every single race at Flemington on Saturday.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.