Venturing to 2500 metres for the first time is a trip into the unknown for Victoria Derby runners, and helps explain the mixed set of results over the years.
Class takes a horse a long way, but if a talented horse meets a superior stayer it will not be enough as $101 chance Rebel Raider showed in 2008 at $101 defeating subsequent weight-for-age star Whobegotyou showed in 2008.
Because so many horses are lightly raced and untapped it is often difficult to assess ability.
Two years ago Fiveandahalfstar graduated from Canterbury maiden and Rosehill mid-week wins in October to win the Derby at $41.
Favourite Hampton Court will attempt to emulate Monaco Consul who achieved the Spring Champion Stakes-Derby group 1 double in 2009 and end a seven-year drought for the favoured runner since Efficient won at $2.35 in 2006.
Hampton Court has a similar form template to last year's Derby winner Polanski.
Polanski went into the Derby with successive stakes wins and Hampton Court has won his past two - the listed Dulcify Quality and the Spring Champion.
By contrast, the next favoured Derby runners on Saturday in Preferment and Atmosphere are maidens.
The last maiden to win the Derby was Redding in 1992.
Last Saturday's Vase winner Moonovermanhattan comes through a proven formline with seven of the past 12 Derby winners contesting the race and two - Plastered (2004) and Efficient (2006) - completing the double.
THE SATURDAY AGE RACING EXPERTS QUADDIE
Mackinnon Stakes
Load up this first leg of the quaddie.
The conundrum for punters each year is how to treat Cox Plate runners backing up seven days later - Happy Trails (2) , Foreteller (3) and Criterion (13) fill that criteria finishing close up in a brutally run race.
The fresh horses on the scene are Epsom winner He's Your Man (8) and Caulfield Cup runner-up Rising Romance (15), which may give them an edge.
The wildcard is Lloyd Williams' latest import Amralah (12) who is a last start winner at Haydock Park over Hillstar who has since won the Canadian International at Woodbine.
My numbers: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15
Victoria Derby
Favourite Hampton Court (1) has won his past two races at stakes level while next highest rated runners in the market, Preferment (13) and Atmosphere (11), are maidens.
Granted they have been running on well in their races in the style of true stayers, but it accentuates the gap in class and they don't have the class or versatility of Hampton Court who has led in 1400-metre races.
Often the Derby is slowly run, which brings luck and interference into play.
If anything goes awry for the favourite, Firehouse Rock (4) from a good draw has the turn of foot to be in the finish.
My number: 1
Myer Classic
At weight-for-age, the best horses should dominate so no reason to look past the obvious here.
This shapes as a classic with Sydney's bold front runner Sweet Idea (1) and last year's runner-up Catkins (2) taking on Ballarat-trained mare May's Dream (4).
Expect Sweet Idea to lead and Girl Guide (10) to push forward from her extremely draw.
May's Dream will look to slot in for a trail and will relish the rise from 1400 metres to 1600 metres.
My numbers: 1, 4
Tab.com.au Stakes
With a guaranteed minimum $4 million pool, a small fortune will be riding on hot favourite Deep Field (6) to land the quaddie.
If you are expecting a sizeable dividend, you will need some blow-out results in the first three legs, or go around the unbeaten, much-spruiked Deep Field .
If you wish to have some back-up runners to Deep Field, perhaps include Eclair Big Bang (12), A Time For Julia (7) and Bel Sprinter (1) who will all be running on.
My number: 6
For a $20 outlay you would receive 125 per cent of a $1 dividend.
FEATURE RACE MARKETS
COOLMORE STUD STAKES
3.5 Rich Enuff
6.8 Kuro
7.6 Brazen Beau
7.6 Rubick
9.2 Earthquake
16 Scissor Kick
28 Eloping
40 Bring Me The Maid
40 Nostradamus
44 Delectation
50 Time For War
55 Galaxy Pegasus
55+ Others
LEXUS STAKES
3 Signoff
8.2 Lord Van Percy
9.2 Big Memory
10 La Amistad
10 Caravan Rolls On
14.5 More Than Sacred
15 Lets Make Adeal
18.5 Like A Carousel
23 Shoreham
24 Marksmanship
60 Wish Come True
120 Thunderbird One, Unchain My Heart
MACKINNON STAKES
5.7 Criterion
5.7 Hes Your Man
6.6 Rising Romance
8.6 Happy Trails
11 Foreteller
11 Amralah
14 Brambles
18 Farraaj
21 Moriarty
23 Hawkspur
27 Spillway
50 Mourinho
65 Star Rolling
80 Costume
VICTORIA DERBY
2.92 Hampton Court
6.2 Preferment
9.8 Moonovermanhattan
10 Bondeiger
13.5 Atmosphere
24 Magicool
29 Light Up Manhattan
32 Firehouse Rock
32 Gouldian
32 San Padre
36 Nozomi
55 Royal Standing
60+ Cuban Fighter
MYER CLASSIC
5.9 Sweet Idea
5.9 Mays Dream
8.6 Catkins
9.6 Neena Rock
11 Solicit
13 Politeness
15 Star Fashion
16.5 Diamond Drille
18 Girl Guide
22 Girl In Flight
28 Bonaria
30 Mahara
32 Forever Loved
42+ Others
Odds: Betfair
FLEMINGTON SCRATCHINGS
Race 1 10 STITCH ME UP
Race 2
13 VIA CAVOUR
Race 3
13 RAINBOW GOLD
Race 6
1 SIDE GLANCE
Race 9
3 AERONAUTICAL
