El Castello headlines capacity VRC Derby field

AAP
El Castello
Josh Parr and El Castello after winning the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au

The time-honoured Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) headlines the action at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, with a capacity field of 16 three-year-olds set to do battle for the $2 million prize.

The Anthony Cummings-trained El Castello holds the call with horse racing bookmakers as a $3.90 favourite for the event after an impressive victory last Saturday in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

Joshua Parr takes the reins once again after claiming Group 1 glory but may have his work cut out slotting in for cover after drawing barrier 18 on Thursday morning.

Red Aces is on the one-week backup after claiming the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) and gets a terrific opportunity to claim back-to-back wins after drawing barrier four.

The Dundeel colt shares the second line of betting at $7.50 alongside King Of Thunder, who will be looking to turn-the-tables after finishing third in the Vase last weekend.

James McDonald gets legged aboard the Tavaci gelding for the first time and should gain an economical run throughout the journey from barrier one.

Hong Kong-based hoop Hugh Bowman returns to Australia and has booked the ride aboard Keeneland ($9.00), while the Ciaron Maher barn will be represented by Saint Emillion and appears the best of those at double-figure odds.

The chances don’t end there, with the likes of China Sea and Goldrush Guru sure to have plenty of admirers at the big odds available.

The Group 1 VRC Derby is the second leg of the Flemington quaddie and is scheduled to get underway at 4:20pm local time.

2024 Victoria Derby Final Field

El Castello Silks

1. El Castello (18)

  • T: Anthony Cummings
  • J: Joshua Parr
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 1111x
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Castelvecchio
  • Dam: Word Games
+250
-142.86
Red Aces Silks

2. Red Aces (4)

  • T: Nick Ryan
  • J: Jamie Mott
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 120×1
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
  • Dam: Cardiac
+600
+140
Keeneland Silks

3. Keeneland (11)

  • T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
  • J: Hugh Bowman
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 31124
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Black
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Savabeel Star (NZ)
+900
+188
Goldrush Guru Silks

4. Goldrush Guru (15)

  • T: Andrew Gluyas
  • J: Jamie Kah
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 12211
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: American Pharaoh
  • Dam: Glam Guru
+1200
+260
Saint Emilion Silks

5. Saint Emilion (6)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Tim Clark
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 1173x
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Snitzel
  • Dam: Kylikwong
+1300
+260
Kingofwallstreet Silks

6. Kingofwallstreet (10)

  • T: Matt Cumani
  • J: Michael Dee
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 127
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
  • Dam: Our Girl Raquie
+1700
+320
Politely Dun Silks

7. Politely Dun (5)

  • T: Danny O’Brien
  • J: Damian Lane
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 41332
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
  • Dam: Politeness
+1600
+300
King Of Thunder Silks

8. King Of Thunder (1)

  • T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
  • J: James McDonald
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 37132
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Tivaci
  • Dam: Sheezababe (NZ)
+650
+160
Tenbury Wells Silks

9. Tenbury Wells (14)

  • T: Tenbury Wells
  • J: Blake Shinn
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 51162
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Dowager Queen (NZ)
+1700
+320
Peru Silks

10. Peru (2)

  • T: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson
  • J: Declan Bates
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 66638
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Brazen Beau
  • Dam: Salamati (GER)
+12500
+2025
China Sea Silks

11. China Sea (7)

  • T: John Sargent
  • J: Mark Zahra
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 269×0
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Rippled (GB)
+1500
+275
Hot Too Go Silks

12. Hot Too Go (13)

  • T: Danny O’Brien
  • J: Jordan Childs
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 2227x
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB)
  • Dam: Gogo Grace
+4500
+775
Scary Silks

13. Scary (8)

  • T: Emma-Lee & David Browne
  • J: Luke Nolen
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 53120
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Shocking
  • Dam: Never Ever (NZ)
+3400
+600
Oxford Blue Silks

14. Oxford Blue (16)

  • T: Julius Sandhu
  • J: Ethan Brown
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 313
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fiorente (IRE)
  • Dam: Stockpin (NZ)
+2500
+475
West Indies Silks

15. West Indies (17)

  • T: Mark Walker
  • J: Craig Newitt
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 414x
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Anchovy (IRE)
+8000
+1250
Autumnheat Silks

16. Autumnheat (12)

  • T: Matt Cumani
  • J: Eoin Walsh
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 53944
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB)
  • Dam: Autumn (NZ)
+10000
+1550
War Ribbon Silks

17 (1E). War Ribbon (3)

  • T: David Payne
  • J: John Allen
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 1223x
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Calyx (GB)
  • Dam: Motion of Power
+1900
+350
Cecchetti Silks

18 (2E). Cecchetti (9)

  • T: Matt Cumani
  • J: Daniel Stackhouse
  • W: 57kg
  • F: 437x
  • Age: 3YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Colt
  • Sire: Fiorente (IRE)
  • Dam: Vandancer (NZ)
+10000
+1550

Horse racing news

Related posts