Short 2015 Victoria Derby Form Guide

The 2015 Victoria Derby form guide is essential reading for punters this morning, but we understand that all the information on offer can be confusing for those that aren’t betting every weekend.

Tarzino has taken excellent form into the 2015 Victoria Derby at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tarzino has taken excellent form into the 2015 Victoria Derby at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

We have done the hard for you and complied the key information that you need to know about every horse in the 2015 Victoria Derby field.

Lizard Island – He arguably brings the strongest form lines into the race after he finished second in both the Caulfield Guineas and Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic and he will be right in the race if he is able to run a strong 2500 metres.

Shards – He has been up for a long time and he was entered into the Victoria Derby as an afterthought, but he was far from disgraced in the Moonee Valley Vase last weekend and he will give them something to catch.

Kia Ora Koutou – The Western Australian galloper has recorded four wins from as many race starts since making his debut and he beat the older horses last start, while he still has the upside to go to another level in the Victoria Derby.

Ayers Rock – His performance in the UCI Stakes was excellent and he had genuine excuses in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic, but he probably does not have the class required to win the Victoria Derby.

Man Of Choice – Man Of Choice has flown under the radar ahead of the Victoria Derby, but there was plenty of merit in his performance behind Vanbrugh in the Spring Champion Stakes and he looks as though he will run out the trip.

Extra Choice – Extra Choice stamped himself as a Victoria Derby contender with his win in the Geelong Classic and he is another that looks like he will run out the trip, but he probably still needs to improve by a couple of lengths.

TarzinoThe Victoria Derby favourite has always looked like the perfect horse for the race and his perfect Derby trials in both the Caulfield Guineas and Moonee Valley Vase mean that he is clearly the horse to beat.

Get The Picture – Get The Picture has been a consistent performer during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was fairly flat in the Geelong Classic and looks as though he lacks the acceleration required to win this race.

Etymology – The betting support for Etymology has not been surprising as he has improved each time that he has stepped up in distance and he has the service of star jockey Hugh Bowman.

Jadeer – Jadeer is another horse that comes through the Geelong Classic and his performance had some merit, but he was clearly outstayed by Extra Choice in that race and it is tough to see him turning the tables over 2500 metres.

Palace Tycoon – The Peter Moody-trained galloper brings a completely different form line into this race and obviously faces easily the toughest challenge of his racing career, but he looks like a genuine stayer and it would not surprise if he finished in the top five.

Scadden’s Run – Scadden’s Run was beaten by quite a distance in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic and it is tough to see him being competitive in the Victoria Derby off his effort at Sale last weekend.

Pay Up Bro – He was not far away in the UCI Stakes and the Geelong Classic, but he clearly lacked the turn-of-foot of the likes of Extra Choice and Jadeer and could only plug away in the final stages of the race.

Colonel Custer – Colonel Custer had plenty of excuses in the Geelong Classic, but it is still tough to see him finding the improvement that would be required to win the Victoria Derby.

Red Alto – Was only just beaten by Tarzino at Ballarat four starts back, but his form since then has not been good enough to win a Victoria Derby.

Iron Boss – There was a bit of hype surrounding Iron Boss when he beat Tally at Geelong ahead of the UCI Stakes, but he was only flat in that race and beat home just a single runner in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic.

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.