Gai Waterhouse’s impressive Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk has retained his spot at the top of the Australian Derby 2012 odds for this Saturday’s Royal Randwick classic but their double digit draw sees them now share that favouritism with Kiwi filly Silent Achiever.

Gai Waterhouse has two chances in the 2012 Australian Derby this Saturday at Royal Randwick

Earlier a 13-horse field was revealed for the $1.5 million Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m), Artie Schiller gelding Laser Hawk coming up with barrier 11.

A winner of four of their five starts to date Laser Hawk will attempt back-to-back Group 1 wins on Saturday after jockey Nash Rawiller, who retains the ride on Saturday, guided them to a tight win in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last time out.

Despite the draw Laser Hawk remains a top fancy for Saturday paying $3.60 in the Australian Derby odds at bookmaker.com.au, and connections are confident the galloper can get the job done again.

“He is a big strong horse that will roll forward so being out wide is not a problem,” Gooree Stud’s racing manager Andrew Baddock said.

“It gives Nash (Rawiller) time to get him in to his rhythm and then he can put him to sleep at the front of the field.”

Waterhouse is also confident that Laser Hawk will be the one to beat in the Derby after watching him work in Sydney on Tuesday morning.

“He’s a beautiful gelding,” she said.

“He worked this morning and Neil Payne rode him and Neil knows him well and he just said ‘Look he was good on Saturday and he was excellent this morning, really excellent’.”

Waterhouse will be shooting for her first Australian Derby winner on Saturday having come close a few times previously, most notably when Carnegie Express ran second to Don Eduardo in 2002.

“I haven’t had a runner in it (the Derby) for years,” Waterhouse said.

“I suppose my unlucky time was Carnegie Express who was narrowly beaten by Don Eduardo.

“I haven’t had any Derby or Oaks chances for a long time.”

Also representing Waterhouse in the Australian Derby on Saturday will be Satirical Boy in barrier four with Tommy Berry aboard, the youngster rated a $31 chance at bookmaker.com.au. after their sixth to Polish Knight in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

“I’m going to run Satirical Boy and I think he’s got a terrific chance, gosh, I’m happy with him,” Waterhouse said.

Laser Hawk’s price in the Australian Guineas betting markets is equal with Rosehill Guineas third placegetter Silent Achiever in barrier nine with Hugh Bowman riding.

Roger James’ New Zealand Derby winner is out to emulate last year’s Australian Derby winning filly Shamrocker who was the first filly in 22 years to win the classic last autumn.

There are plenty of indicators that tip Silent Achiever for the win as she shares the sire O’Reilly with Shamrocker who also ran third in the Rosehill Guineas before her Derby triumph 12 months ago.

The only other hopeful under double-figures in the Australian Derby betting markets is Rosehill Guineas runner-up Ocean Park paying $5 through bookmaker.com.au.

Drawn favourably in barrier six with last year’s Australian Derby winning hoop Glen Boss in the saddle the Gary Hennessy-trained Ocean Park debuted down under with an eighth to Mosheen in the Randwick Guineas before improving last start with their good Rosehill run.

Other notable chances and their current Australian Derby prices courtesy of bookmaker.com.au include surprise Tulloch Stakes winner Polish Knight ($11), Paul Messara’s Tulloch Stakes runner-up Rekindled Alliance ($12), up-and-comer Ethiopia ($16) and the Anthony Cummings-trained Strike The Stars ($18).

To get behind your early favourites for the Australian Guineas this weekend we recommend you head straight to the source of the country’s best horse racing odds – bookmaker.com.au!

2012 Australian Derby Odds

Randwick Race 7 – 3:35pm – 14/04/2012

*Fixed Win Odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change