Caulfield trainer Mick Price will be searching for back to back wins in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 29 with four nominations for the three year old staying classic.
G1 JJ Atkins Winner Sacred Elixir, above, is among the nominations for the 2016 Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Price won his first Victoria Derby last year with Tarzino and is hoping that Battle Order, Northern Captain, Rocketeer or Yu Long Sheng Hui can do the job again this year.
One hundred and six three year olds have been nominated for the 2016 Victoria Derby with 2013 winning trainer Robbie Laing providing eight of them.
Laing claims the winning trophy with Polanski and is chasing his second win in the three year old Blue Riband with Crypto Peer Rocks, Evelyn, Jamieson, Reata, So Si Bon, Stornaway, The Perfect Crop or Wimborne.
The powerfull Godolphin stable under the guidance of trainer John O’ Shea has also entered eight three year olds for the Victoria Derby, Honeywine, Kent, Nemrud, Polemic, Resort, Retaliation, Trenchant and Wine.
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has enhanced his chances of winning a second Victoria Derby after nominating six three year olds, Betcha Thinking, High Mist, Profusive, Tumultuous, Veladero and Wine Bush.
Waller saddled up Preferment to collect the winning trophy in the 2014 Victoria Derby.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have entered four, All Out Of Love, Harlow Gold, Mr Aloof and Seaburge while premiership winning trainer Darren Weir has Volatile Mix as his only entry.
Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher is another with multiple entries, nominating Beach Life, Hellman, Kaching, Mutineer, Styleman and Throssell while the Freedman Brothers have three among the entries, Bedford, Knock Toff and Smooth Whiskey.
Two year old Group 1 winner Sacred Elixir from the New Zealand stables of Tony Pike has been nominated while James Cummings has nominated juvenile Group 1 winner Prized Icon along with Good Standing and Potent Force.
The first acceptances for the Victoria Derby will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 18 October 2016 with the final fields to be released on Wednesday 26 October, 2016.
