MANZOICE screaming home to win the 2022 Victoria Derby
VICTORIA DERBY DAY
One of the great days in world racing is Victoria Derby Day at Flemington. It is a complete program of group races with so many highlights with three G1s and other contests of great importance. The start of the Melbourne Cup Carnival is viewed by many around the globe and is attended by near 100,000 race goers – many of whom stay a few days later for the running of the great race.
Along with the AU$2m Derby, those other events include the AU$2m G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and the AU$1m G1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). Plus we see the newly named G2 The Damien Oliver (1400m, previously known as the Linlithgow Stakes) after the retiring great of the saddle and the G2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) for the Oaks fillies. Toss in the G3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) which is the last chance to make it into the Melbourne Cup and there are highlights from the start to the end.
Running second in the G3 Caulfield Classic, RIFF ROCKET is on the list of fancies for the Victoria Derby.
The path to the Victoria Derby
The champion MANZOICE and second place SHARP ‘N’ SMART of the Victoria Derby were runners in the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney last year. TOM KITTEN, winner of the Spring Champion Stakes recently , has been ruled out in the Victoria Derby, however, the first and second runner-up CAP FERRAT and GANBARE have set sight on the prestigious G1. SUNSETS, RIFF ROCKET, GATES and APULIA from another lead up race Caulfield Classic are also the hopefuls for the 2023 Victoria Derby.
Running second in the G3 Caulfield Classic, RIFF ROCKET is on the list of fancies for the Victoria Derby.
IN SECRET won last year’s Coolmore with ease
Finding the next champion sprinter in the Coolmore Stud Stakes
In the Victoria Derby Day, the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for the 3YOs is the race which holds a lot of attention for the entire industry. With the breeding industry donning another integral part of Australian racing, this is a genuine “breeders’ race” that bears strong implications at stud for years to come.
Fillies have prevailed in three of the last five editions, like the Godolphin filly IN SECRET decimated her competition, and tore up the turf by open lengths at Flemington last year. The rest of the winning colts are making their presence felt as formidable stallion prospects on the international stage, including MERCHANT NAVY.
In the Coolmore Stud Stakes, some of the main hopes may well emanate from The Everest. Even the fleeting HOME AFFAIRS, who was well-beaten at Randwick two years ago against older horses, got class relief here in his own age division, simply out-classed all rivals and streaked right back into the winner’s circle.
PRINCESS GRACE is one of the hopefuls for the Empire Rose Stakes
Possible contenders for the Empire Rose Stakes
The other feature on the day is the G1 Empire Rose Stakes where the fillies and mares chase a huge prize in their careers on and off the track. G1 class females are prolific at the moment, and familiar foes like PRINCESS GRACE, ATISHU and HOPE IN YOUR HEART would likely lock horns once again down the stretch.
PRINCESS GRACE is one of the hopefuls for the Empire Rose Stakes
James McDonald already has a brilliant VRC Spring Carnival record
Jockeys and trainers
Last but not least, this week will also be about Damien Oliver’s stellar career. Not just with a race named after him but also to recognise that he holds the record for 85 wins during Cup week going into the 2023 carnival. However, with all things considered, that could be broken in time as James McDonald has had a superb recent run at Flemington. Just the last couple has seen him ride 8 winners in 2022 and 10 winners in 2021.
On the other hand, one egregious trend to note is the domination of Sydney trainers on Derby Day. Through the last 10 years, NSW-based horses have won 42 or 46% of all races contested on Derby Day alone. In just the last two years, they have won 12 of the 18 races, a staggering strike rate of 66.7%.
