The lightly raced three year old Furore has burst into calculation for the 2018 Group 1 $2m Harrolds Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on the first day of The Championships on Saturday.

Furore ran third to D’Agento in the Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Furore has proven to be a real surprise packet for the Kris Lees stable and has quickly worked his way up through the grades to be one of the main chances in the Blue Riband Classic for the three year olds.

The Pierro gelding only faced the starter for the time on January 15 and claimed a debut win in a 1257m Taree Maiden and after winning his next three starts at Cessnock, Gosford and Wyong, finished a last start third behind D’Argento and Tangled in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24.

Lees can’t remember having an Australian Derby runner and is hoping Furore can provide the leading Newcastle stable with another Group 1 trophy.

“I can’t recall having a Derby runner at Randwick before,’’ Lees said.

“I’ve had plenty of Oaks runners and been all around that race with seconds, thirds and fourths but Furore is my first Derby chance.

“He has surprised me every time he has gone to the races and he was very good the other day in the Rosehill Guineas.’’

Golden Slipper winning jockey Brenton Avdulla will stick with Furore who will settle in the middle of the pack from barrier eight in the capacity eighteen horse Australian Derby field.

Betting for the 2018 Australian Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au has Furore the second pick at $7 behind the $5 favourite Ace High while the New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance and Victorian colt Belfast shared the next line of betting at $9.

Tye Angland takes the mount on Ace High (barrier 2) who has not been placed since winning the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival and is coming off a last start fourth up sixth to in the Rosehill Guineas.