The 2013 Victoria Derby favourite Savvy Nature is in peak form heading into Saturday’s three year old classic at Flemington according to Flemington track man Warren Huntly.
Savvy Nature will be in peak condition for the Victoria Derby. Photo by Steve Hart.
Huntly watched Savvy Nature go through his final paces leading up to the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) and reported that the John O’Shea trained three year old was looking in peak condition.
“With the benefit of last Saturday’s run under his belt he is sure to be at his peak for the Derby,” Huntly wrote in the Sportsman.
Savvy Nature pulled up in fine order after his three lengths win over All Rigged Up and Pinstripe Lane in the Group 2 $220,000 Mitchelton Wines Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday and O’Shea sent him out on Thursday morning to work over 1600m at even time.
“He looked bright and fit after completing the light exercise session,” Huntly said.
While seven of the last eleven Victoria Derby winners have come through the Vase, the last three year old to win the double was the Western Australian trained Plastered in 2004.
Lion Tamer in 2010 was the last Victoria Derby winner to race in the Vase finishing second while in 2007 Kibbutz ran second with Benicio running third in the Vase in 2005.
Savvy Nature at $4.60 has claimed the outright favouritism over Complacent who is back into $5.50 after $6 was bet and O’Shea is hoping to turn the tables on the Peter Snowden trained colt after finishing behind him twice in Sydney.
Complacent proved too strong at their last two encounters with Savvy Nature finishing second in the Group 3 $200,000 PJ’s Irish Pub Parramatta Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 28 and third in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 12.
The Robbie Laing trained Polanksi has come in for some solid support and is now a $6 chance just ahead of the Complacent’s stablemate San Diego at $7.
Polanksi came into Victory Derby calculations with wins at his last two outings as well coming up with the inside barrier as opposed to Complacent, gate sixteen, and Savvy Nature, gate thirteen, in the original draw.
The Cranbourne trained Polanksi is the best local hope to keep the Victoria Derby trophy in Melbourne after winning the Listed $120,000 UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 5 followed by a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Jacob Park Thoroughbreds Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 19.
