This Wednesday Geelong Cup Day will take centre stage in Victoria with all but two of the three-year-olds engaged for the Geelong Classic 2012 field at the meeting heading towards the $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

While most of the attention at Geelong on Wednesday will be on the $300,000 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) where 2012 Melbourne Cup fancies including internationals Gatewood, Brigantin and Tac De Boistron will face off – Race 6 is also shaping up as a beauty.

Due to jump at 3:20pm one event before the 2012 Geelong Cup, the $120,000 Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) is an important spring prep for a whole different group of gallopers.

One of classic lead-ups to the Victoria Derby 2012, run at Flemington on Saturday November 3, the Geelong Classic field this year features 11 hopefuls.

Nine of those are still in Victoria Derby contention with the Peter Snowden-trained Solemn the shortest-priced of the Geelong Classic acceptors in the Victoria Derby odds at bookmaker.com.au.

Paying $18 in the Victoria Derby markets, which are firmly led by $2.15 favourite It’s A Dundeel, Bernardini colt Solemn has drawn wide with barrier 10 for Saturday with Kerrin McEvoy to ride.

McEvoy was aboard last start when the youngster ran second over 1800m at Haweksbury, Solemn having previously broken their maiden status at run number six at the track over 1500m with Rod Quinn in the saddle.

Snowden prepared last year’s Geelong Classic winner Induna who continued on to run a brave second defeated just a long neck by Sangster in the Victoria Derby.

Following Solemn in the Victoria Derby odds are then fellow Geelong Classic hopefuls Our Desert Warrior ($26) and Escado ($31).

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Desert King colt Our Desert Warrior debuted on September 29 winning at Kembla Grange before their last start fourth over the Warwick Farm mile on October 10, Nash Rawiller to ride the full-brother to six time Group 1 winner Desert War from the inside alley in the Classic.

Casino Prince gelding Escado meanwhile comes off a brave fifth when defeated only two lengths by Philippi in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 6.

Other notable Victorian Derby bound three-year-olds to run at Geelong include Peter Moody’s up-and-comer Correggio ($51) who blitzed their rivals by four and a half lengths over 2080m at Cranbourne on October 12, and David Hayes’ Redoute’s Choice colt Rawnaq ($61) looking to bounce back from their 12^th in the UCI Stakes.

Meanwhile one of the two horses not heading towards the Derby but who will run in the 2012 Geelong Classic is then Danas Best who will be out for their third win on the trot on Wednesday follwoign recent wins over 2100m at Goulburn and Gosford.

See below for the complete 2012 Mr Paparazzi.com Geelong Classic field, barriers and jockeys.

Then when you’re ready to get in on the Geelong racing and Victoria Derby betting action head over to bookmaker.com.au – our preferred online sportsbook who are offering the exclusive Pick Your Own Odds markets throughout the spring.

2012 Geelong Classic Final Field & Barrier Draw

Geelong Race 6 – 3:20pm (AEST) – 24/10/2012