Trainer Leon Macdonald’s Victoria Derby hope Perfect Punch will be ridden further back in the field than normal in today’s big race.

Macdonald who won the 2011 Caulfield Cup with Southern Speed is hoping for another major with the Starcraft three year old.

Perfect Punch has drawn barrier 13 and will be ridden by Clare Lindop.

That team won the 2008 Victoria Derby with Rebel Raider.

Perfect Punch finished third to Induna last start in the Geelong Derby trial (2200m) but was noticed pulling a tad hard.

The new tactics will be employed to settle the colt.

Perfect Punch is a $17 chance with Manawanui, despite a betting drift from $2.30 to $2.70,  a warm favourite.