The Peter Gelagotis-trained Levendi looks set to push onto the Australian Derby 2018 in seven days’ time after an eye-catching win in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Levendi (pictured at Flemington) is onto the 2018 Australian Derby after winning Rosehill’s Tulloch Stakes on Easter Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Winner of the Group 1 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the spring, the well-bred Pierro colt was fourth-up on Easter Saturday making his Sydney race debut in the Group 2 $200,000 Tulloch Stakes (2000m).

Backing-up from the second to Cliff’s Edge in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on March 16, Levendi handled the right-handed way of racing without a worry.

Jockey Mark Zahra was aboard the up-and-comer for the first time in the Alister Clark and with the benefit of that experience, was able to go one better with a win in the Tulloch Stakes on way to Saturday week’s Group 1 $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick.

“He didn’t make it easy for me. Halfway up the straight I thought he was complacent and happy running second but I got stuck into him and the Gelagotis boys had him nice and fit. He was strong over the line,” Zahra said post-win.

“He switched off in the run. He relaxes really well. If he wasn’t going to get the [Derby] trip I think he would have run second but he toughed it out really well.”

The Tulloch Stakes – Australian Derby double was completed last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival by Jon Snow (2017), who was the first winner of the Group 1 out of the Tulloch since Starcraft won both races in 2004.

Before the Tulloch Stakes results, Levendi was at $17 in all-in ATC Derby odds online through Ladbrokes.com.au and he has subsequently firmed into $11.

Zahra had Levendi punching the breeze early in third on the outside of Astoria, who settled on the fence in fourth after being first out of the gates but overtaken for the lead by the Kiwi Weather With You for last year’s winning trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.

From the wide gate, last October’s Geelong Classic winner Weather With You rolled around the field and took up front-running from the $201 roughie Yuralla Boy.

It was a good gallop in the Tulloch Stakes and once on the straight, the James Cummings-trained Astoria ($10) got the gap coming with a big run at the 250m.

He briefly hit the front but Levendi ($4.20) was fighting on the outside and surged forward to salute, while Weather With You ran third rounding out the Tulloch Stakes trifecta.

The Victoria Derby third placegetter from the spring Astoria subsequently firmed in futures Australian Derby betting from $26 into $15, while Weather With You was the big market mover in from $51 to $21 to go back-to-back in the mile and a half classic for Baker & Forsman.

To back your early Australian Derby 2018 tips and lock in the Tulloch Stakes winner Levendi next race at the right price visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2018 Tulloch Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 5 – 31/03/2018