Peter Snowden’s impressive three-year-old colt Retrieve has further firmed in the 2010 Victoria Derby betting markets after first declarations were taken by Racing Victoria yesterday.

The connections of 30 three-year-olds paid the first declaration fee for the $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), set to take place at Flemington Saturday week on the opening Melbourne Cup Carnival meeting.

Since the nomination stage, the number of runners vying for a spot in the 16-horse Victoria Derby field was cut from 87 to 30.

Retrieve, one of two entries for Peter Snowden along with Bullbars, is now the clear cut favourite to win the AAMI Victoria Derby also improving his popularity with the punters after a classy win in the Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

In a courageous run, Retrieve was able to hold on and score a half length win over Almindoro in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day over the weekend.

The victory boosted Retrieve’s career record to four wins from eight starts and saw bookies across the country slash their price on the son of Rahy to win the 2010 Victoria Derby.

Premier online bookmaker [sportsbet] previously had Retrieve as the $5 favourite in their Victoria Derby betting, his quote now a much shorter $2.80 after Saturday’s win.

Before the Norman Robinson, Retrieve took out the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill in September and was a close second to stablemate Erewhon in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 2.

Jockey Mark Zahra marked Retrieve as a top chance in the Victoria Derby.

“Over a Derby trip he just switches off and picks up when he can. He’ll be a great chance come Derby day,” Zahra said.

Other top entries among the Victoria Derby first acceptors yesterday included Norman Robinson Stakes second and third placegetters Almindoro and Digital Fortress.

Almindoro’s impressive second on Saturday has seen the Redoute’s Choice gelding shorten in from $11 to equal $7 second favourite with Rekindled Interest in the Victoria Derby odds.

Norman Robinson Stakes third placegetter Digital Fortress is another big mover in the Derby betting markets, firming from $21 to $10 after their impressive run on the weekend.

A big drifter in the Victoria Derby markets was Shadowofexcellence, the Hawkes-trained colt rearing up in the gates before the Norman Robinson and missing the start by five lengths to eventually finish ninth.

The three most notable defectors from the Victoria Derby field are the Tony Vasil-trained Altius, Anacheeva and Eclair Surprise.

Peter Moody lost both of his Derby hopefuls with Anacheeva set to be spelled and Eclair Surprise withdrawn due to injury.

The 2010 Crown Oaks First Acceptances were also taken yesterday, with 30 fillies left in contention lead by odds-on favourite Shamrocker.

The 2010 Victoria Derby final field will be released on October 27 and published here so bookmark Races.com.au to stay up to date with the latest.

In the meantime, check out the great odds available on the remaining Victoria Derby entries at [sportsbet] today!

2010 Victoria Derby List of First Acceptances

#	Horse	Trainer	Ballot	Weight
1	RETRIEVE	Peter Snowden	1	55.5
2	RUN FOR LEVI	John P Thompson	2	55.5
3	LION TAMER (NZ)	Murray & Bjorn Baker	3	55.5
4	SMOKIN’ JOEY	Lee Freedman	4	55.5
5	KUDAKULARI (NZ)	Bart Cummings	5	55.5
6	SHADOWS IN THE SUN	Anthony Cummings	6	55.5
7	PRAECIDO (NZ)	David Payne	7	55.5
8	BULLBARS	Peter Snowden	8	55.5
9	SHOOTOFF (NZ)	Graeme Rogerson	9	55.5
10	LUCKYI’MBAREFOOT	Tracey Templeton	10	55.5
11	DIGITAL FORTRESS (NZ)	Guy Walter	11	55.5
12	ALMINDORO	Steve Richards	12	55.5
13	REKINDLED INTEREST	Jim Conlan	13	55.5
14	COSMONAUT	Bart Cummings	14	55.5
15	KIRINATA	Paul Perry	15	55.5
16	ZAKUMI	Tim Martin	16	55.5
17	MILESTONE	Lee Freedman	17	55.5
18	ULUNDI	Pat Carey	18	55.5
19	SHADOWOFEXCELLENCE	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	19	55.5
20	ABSOLUTELYAWESOME (NZ)	Michael Moroney	20	55.5
21	KERCHINGS	Anthony Cummings	21	55.5
22	THE CHEVRON (NZ)	Leon Corstens	22	55.5
23	ACCLAIMED CHAOS	Peter Healey	23	55.5
24	SCOTLAND THE BRAVE	Danny O’Brien	24	55.5
25	QUARTERBAR	Michael Moroney	25	55.5
26	MR BISSET	Danny O’Brien	26	55.5
27	PERFECT PECS	Rick Hore-Lacy	27	55.5
28	TEN BELLS INN	Brad Cole	28	55.5
29	GLACIER KING	Peter White	29	55.5
30	SADDLE THE STARS	Chris Ryan	30	55.5