Sunday’s Spring Classics Previews

Approaching their tenth year, the Derby and Oaks Previews haven’t exactly been the best lead up to the pair of 2500m Classics in November, however the tide is turning.

Since their inaugural running in 2017 as the Derby and Oaks Trials, just one horse to have run in the trial has gone on to win their respective Group 1, and it occurred in the first year.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Pinot broke her maiden in the 1800m event before going on to win the VRC Oaks later that year, however since then, the well has dried up.

Ironically, it’s been the Listed Super Impose Stakes, also over 1800m at Flemington, that has proved a key reference for the Victoria Derby in particular, most notably in recent years with Riff Rocket, who won the Super Impose by 5-1/2 lengths before a narrow victory in the Derby.

For the girls, the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Howden Victoria Derby Day has been the key lead up for fillies then backing up on Thursday’s Crown Oaks Day, with star filly Treasurethe Moment becoming the 39^th filly to complete the double last year.

That said, the Derby and Oaks Previews form hasn’t been far away in recent times, with both races providing placegetters in the past couple of years.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained Sunsets finished second in the 2023 Derby Preview before going on to finish a 1.1 lengths third to Riff Rocket in the Derby.

Last year, Kingofwallstreet, also second in the Preview, was beaten two lengths into fourth behind Goldrush Guru in the Derby.

In 2022, Mr Maestro won the Preview, the Super Impose and the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) before finishing fourth in the Derby.

On the fillies’ side, Hurry Curry won the Crown Oaks Preview last year and went on to run third in the Oaks behind Treasurethe Moment which is the best result since Salto Angel split Personal and Montefilia in the 2020 VRC Oaks, having run second in the Preview.

Whether this year’s pair of Previews can go one step better and provide the winner of a Howden Victoria Derby or Crown Oaks remains to be seen, however there are certainly some promising acceptors already high up in betting for their respective targets.

Engine Of War (pictured above) for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr is the all-in favourite for the Howden Victoria Derby and is accepted for Sunday’s Preview.

He proved too strong off a genuine speed to win over 1500m at Sandown Hillside at his Australian debut and will no doubt appreciate more ground.

Arabian Prince is also one to watch for the Michael Kent yard. Bred to stay, the son of Ghaiyyath hit the line strongly in a slowly run race on debut in the Byerley Handicap over the Flemington 1800m.

On the fillies’ side, we have a small, tactical affair of six runners but the one to watch is clearly There Were Roses (pictured above) for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

She debuted in the race won by Engine Of War, getting a long way back and charging late after being held up.

Whether the small field will suit her remains to be seen but she’s certainly one to watch getting over ground towards a Crown Oaks.