The 2013 Victoria Derby lead-up form of Famechon has been consistent but trainer Michael Moroney admits that he was disappointed with his charges effort in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

Trainer Michael Moroney is hoping that Famechon can give him his third victory in the Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Taron Clarke

Famechon stamped himself as a Victoria Derby contender when he stormed from the back of the field to finish third behind Polanski and Epic Saga in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and battled home fairly to finish sixth in the Norman Robinson.

Moroney told Racing Ahead that Famechon did not take advantage of a lovely run into the race at his last start but is hopeful that the Haradasun colt can return to his best form when he returns to Flemington in the Victoria Derby this weekend.

“We were a bit disappointed,” Moroney said on RSN.

“He got a lovely run in transit and Dwayne said that he thought he was going to win it before they swung in.

“When he brought him out and asked him to go, he said that he just didn’t let down on the firm ground.

“It was a bit of concern but we are hoping that a return to the bigger track at Flemington, with a bit more give in the ground, is going to be what will turn him around.

“He went from getting a really tough run and going terrific to getting a lovely run and not doing anything last start, which was a bit of a surprise for us.”

The Victoria Derby lead-up form of Famechon has not been as strong as that of leading contenders Savvy Nature, Complacent or Criterion but the three-year-old fared far better than his rivals in yesterday’s barrier draw and will jump from barrier four.

Moroney believes that Famechon has the early speed to be able to take advantage of his inside gate and is confident that the progressive colt will get a stellar run into the race, in the first half of the sixteen-horse strong field.

“He has enough gate speed to put himself in a lovely spot and that is going to be a help for him, the gate.

“He can use it and it is a big field so the main thing is to try and be in the first half of the field and out of trouble a little bit.”

Moroney is chasing his third ever victory in the Victoria Derby after previously winning the race with Second Coming in 1997 and Monaco Consul in 2009.