Alister Clark winner Pheidon returns to Sydney for a shot at Saturday's 2014 Tulloch Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

A line-up of Australian Derby hopefuls get a final chance to earn a shot at the upcoming Group 1 when they face off in the 2014 Tulloch Stakes in Sydney this weekend.

Scheduled to run at Rosehill Gardens as Golden Slipper Day Race 5, this year’s $175,000 Group 2 The Sunday Telegraph Tulloch Stakes (2000m) has attracted a full field of 16 three-year-old colts and geldings.

The race is an ideal preparatory run for promising staying types looking for their chance in the $1.5 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick Saturday week.

Of those three-year-olds facing off this weekend, the shortest priced in the futures Australian Derby odds at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Murray Baker-trained Atlante.

Cambridge-based horseman Baker celebrated a big Australian Derby win 12 months ago with his star Kiwi It’s A Dundeel, racing in the $1.5 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) this Saturday, and is after another win in 2014.

Atlante is currently an $18 shot in the Australian Derby pre-field markets that are firmly led by David Payne’s Rosehill Guineas winner Criterion ($3.60).

Winner of the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) last year, the lightly-raced Fastnet Rock colt debuted down under with a nice second behind Dissident in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at the start of March.

They failed to come that close to the same horse again next start however when finishing sixth to Dissident in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) in a fair effort.

Saturday Atlante step up in distance seeing further than a mile for the first time and if they can handle that they are a good chance even from their wide barrier 15 draw.

Baker will also be represented in the Tulloch Stakes, and perhaps then in the Australian Derby field, by Show The World – a $21 Derby chance.

Drawn in gate 11 with Craig Williams to ride this weekend, High Chaparral gelding Show The World has been well beaten in their two runs down under.

The first was a 12^th in the Randwick Guineas, and they didn’t do much better when nearly nine lengths off Criterion running 10^th in the Rosehill Guineas over this same track and distance last Saturday.

The three next best in Australian Derby betting facing off in the Tulloch Stakes are then High Tec, Koroibete and Pheidon also all paying $21 for the April 12 clash.

Another Kiwi raider, Trent Busuttin’s High Tech enjoyed a winning Aussie debut at Wyong on March 6 before their eighth last start behind Traitor in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) where they missed the start 16 days later.

Gerald Ryan’s local Kheleyf gelding Koroibete is another out to improve on their last start failure, the Randwick Guineas 10^th placegetter to be suited to the step up in distance for this.

Pheidon meanwhile looks a top chance in the Tulloch Stakes, Gai Waterhouse’s Al Maher gelding coming off an excellent Melbourne win.

Travelling interstate for the first time on March 14 Pheidon thrived under the lights at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley track to win the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) by an easy two lengths.

It was a lovely effort and one they’ll be out to repeat over the same distance back home in Sydney this Saturday.

Waterhouse will also be represented by Order Of The Sun coming off a Rosehill Guineas 13^th when beaten 13 lengths.

Other notable Tulloch Stakes hopes then include the Chris Waller-trained recent Group 2 Autumn Classic winner Vilanova, Anthony Cummings’ Phar Lap Stakes fifth placed Best Case and the in-form Peter Snowden-trained Shikra after their third on the trot.

See below for the complete Tulloch Stakes 2014 field, barriers and jockeys.

Then to back your early picks for the Australian Derby before markets firm, visit our preferred online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au who are paying their customers out in cash almost immediately after races are run thanks to their Australian-first EFTPOS Card system!

2014 Tulloch Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Rosehill Race 5 – 3:00pm (AEST) – 05/04/2014