The Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained Odeon is one of the key three-year-olds that feature in the South Australian Derby 2017 nominations taken this week.

Last year’s winning trainer Darren Weir has two 2017 South Australian Derby nominations this autumn chasing back-to-back victories in the Group 1 classic. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A major feature of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, this season’s $600,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) is set to light-up Morphettville Racecourse on Saturday May 13.

The South Australian Derby nominations closed on Tuesday May 2 and attracted 35 three-year-old stayers.

Current SA Derby odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Zacinto gelding Odeon sitting as the clear $4.20 favourite after his April 29 win over 2000m at Caulfield.

Prior to that the Flemington-based up-and-comer finished runner-up in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at the Morphettville track he is set to return to for the Group 1.

Occupying the second and third lines of all-in South Australian Derby betting are the Darren Weir-trained Rockstar Rebel ($7) and Ruthven ($8) for Caulfield’s Ciaron Maher.

Champion Victorian trainer Weir prepared last year’s South Australian Derby winner Howard Be Thy Name who came off a lead-up win in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m).

Weir has two Derby nominees this autumn with Volatile Mix who ran fourth in this season’s Chairman’s Stakes on April 29 and Ruthven who is a son of the 2009 SA Derby winner Rebel Raider.

Ruthven is yet to race in Adelaide and was last seen running fourth to Toffee Nose – a key contender in the Australasian Oaks this weekend – in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) at Caulfield on April 22.

Chasing the Chairman’s Stakes – South Australian Derby double completed by Howard Be Thy Name 12 months ago, is the flying Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained Waging War.

Another son of Rebel Raider, who was favourite in the 2009 SA Derby, Waging War has won his past three starts on the trot including the three-quarter length victory in the Group 3 with Clare Lindop aboard.

Co-trainer Macdonald has prepared two South Australian Derby winners in the past 30 years with French Cotton (1986) and the aforementioned Rebel Raider (2009).

Along with the progressive Waging War, he and Gluyas has also nominated for Al Maher gelding Gun Guru and smart filly Pretty Punk.

The other best out of the Chairman’s Stakes nominated for the step up in class and distance for the Derby is runner-up Grand Chancellor who has finished top two in his past four runs.

Locally prepared by Phillip Stokes, the Savabeel colt beat Odeon home in the Port Adelaide Guineas two back before his second in the Chairman’s Stakes when stepping up in distance.

Other notable SA Derby entries include the Mick Price-trained Chairman’s Stakes fourth placed Darci Brahma gelding Netherfield and Crown Oaks second placed filly Harlow Gold who runs in this weekend’s Australasian Oaks.

Check out the full South Australian Derby 2017 nominations below, the final field set for release on Tuesday May 9 followed by updated odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 South Australian Derby Nominations

Morphettville Racecourse – 13/05/2017