Sydney colt Thinkin’ Big has been installed as the clear cut favourite for the Group 1 $2m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday following the release of the final field today.
Thinkin’ Big, above, is the favourite for the 2018 Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The front running Thinkin’ Big has drawn nicely at barrier nine in the sixteen horse plus two emergency Victoria Derby field and is the ruling $3 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Tim Clark has been in the saddle for Thinkin’ Big’s three 2018 Spring Carnival starts and gets the ride again.
The High Chaparral colt scored a first up win in the Group 3 $200,000 360DMG Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill followed by a third in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick and then produced another all the win in the Group 3 $350,000 Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) at Caulfield.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said that Thinkin’ Big has come through his last start win in the Ladbrokes Classic in great order and are anticipating another bold showing in the Victoria Derby.
“Thinkin’ Big’s super, he came through his Caulfield win in great shape,’’ Bott told The Daily Telegraph.
“Physically he has really come on since his last start and hopefully we have got the right horse for the Derby.
“The Derby is what we set out to do, what we set out to achieve.”
“It’s a prestigious race, we would love to be able to win it and this way we are giving him his chance.
“He has had a good grounding for the Derby and he is bred to see out the 2500m.’’
On the second line of betting at $6.50 is the James Cummings trained Aramayo who is coming off a last start third behind Stars Of Carrum and Savoie in last Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at The Valley.
The Darren Weir trained Savoie is marked at $10 while Robbie Laing’s Vase winner Stars Of Carrum is listed at $13.
Savoie has drawn very wide at barrier seventeen with Dean Yendall in the saddle while Weir’s other runner Extra Brut was also out of luck at the barrier, coming up with gate fifteen with John Allen to keep the mount.
Extra Brut is coming off a last start sixth in the Ladbrokes Classic and despite his wide barrier, is on the third line of betting at $8.
Betting for the 2018 Victoria Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Thinkin’ Big, $6.50 Aramayo, $8 Extra Brut, $10 Savoie, $11 Chapada, $13 Sikorsky, Stars Of Carrum, Mickey Blue Eyes, $15 Farooq, Savvy Oak, $26 Alessandro, Visao, $31 Home Ground, $51 Tolemac, Grinzinger Star, Vow And Declare, $101 Louie The Legend, Sebarate.
