A brilliant front running display by Transact to win the Listed $200,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Thursday has earned the three year old a trip to Adelaide for the South Australian Derby.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Transact is now a $9 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 11.

“We’re going to South ­Australia and win the Derby,” Waterhouse said.

“We’re down to go on Wednesday off to Adelaide.”

Melbourne based jockey Luke Currie had no hesitation in taking Transact straight to the front and the Dundeel gelding was never headed after leading the large field of three year olds out of the straight the first time.

Transact struggled to show any potential early on in his career but gave the owners a glimpse of his staying ability once Waterhouse and Bott stepped him up distance.

Transact scored his maiden win in a 2125m Class 1 and Maiden Plate at Cessnock in September last year and then made it two wins in a row with a victory in a similar class race over 2320m at Newcastle a couple of weeks latest.

“All he could do was stay and he could not win,” Waterhouse said.

“He was running last … (but) the further the ­distance we gave him, the more he improved.”

“But the more we stepped him up in distance, the more he improved and then everybody believed in him.”

Transact failed to beat a runner home when he resumed for this campaign in a 1600m Newcastle Class 2 but then found form quickly when the stable stepped him up in distance with three placings in the lead up to the VRC St Leger.

Waterhouse is also contemplating a return to Melbourne to gain a ballot exemption from the 2019 Melbourne Cup by winning the Listed $400,000 The Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 25.

“We certainly would want to win the Andrew Ramsden, and I said that to Adrian,” Waterhouse said.

“We’re thinking about it.”

The 2019 Group 1 $7.3m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) will be run at Flemington on November 5.

The Phillip Stokes trained Mr Quickie is the early favourite for the South Australian Derby at $4.20 ahead of Grinzinger Star at $5.50 and Declarationofheart at $7.

Early betting for the 2019 South Australian Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Mr Quickie, $5.50 Grinzinger Star, $7 Declrationofheart, $7.50 Chapada, $9 Extra Brut, Savvy Oak, Secret Blaze, Transact, $13 Stars Of Carrum, Tarwin, $15 Classic Wei Wei, Star Missile, $17 Declares War, $26 Alessandro, Approach Discreet, Budd Fox, Dealmaker, Galahad Guru, Kaplumpich, Snipes, Tongsai Boss, $31 or better the rest.