Ciaron Maher’s Victorian raider Ruthven heads a capacity South Australian Derby 2017 field released for this Saturday’s feature at Morphettville but has a nasty barrier to overcome.

Last year’s winning trainer Darren Weir has two runners in the 2017 SA Derby field at Morphettville Racecourse on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A full 16 starters plus four emergencies make up final acceptances for this season’s $600,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) including ATC Derby graduate Ruthven.

Chasing his first win since last October, progressive Domesday colt Ruthven ran a brave fourth beaten just two lengths by the winner Jon Snow on April 1 at Royal Randwick in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2000m).

Last time out he dropped in distance for a second behind Toffee Nose in Caulfield’s VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) and will relish the step back up to 2500m in the SA Derby field.

Ruthven however is drawn gate 18, which will become 14 with emergencies out, looking to be the first SA Derby winner from wider than barrier 11 since Kidnapped (16 of 16) in 2010.

Co-trainer Leon MacDonald has enjoyed two wins in the past 30 years most recently Rebel Raider (2009) and he along with Andrew Gluyas has two runners in the South Australian Derby field 2017.

The stable’s top hope of keeping the trophy at home at Morphettville shapes-up as the flying Waging War who has won his past three on the trot.

Due to be ridden by Clare Lindop, who rode the aforementioned Rebel Raider to victory for the punters, Waging War is a son of that former SA Derby champion.

The gelding has won his past three on the trot including the traditional lead-up to the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival Group 1, the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2030m) on April 29.

The Chairman’s Stakes has provided two of the past three South Australian Derby winners including Howard Be Thy Name (2016) who completed the double 12 months ago.

Also representing Macdonald & Gluyas is fellow last start winner Gun Guru, the Al Maher gelding having saluted over 2224m at Balaklava on May 3.

The other best three-year-old stayers out of the Chairman’s Stakes backing up on Saturday meanwhile are the Phillip Stokes-trained runner-up Grand Chancellor and Darren Weir’s fourth-placed Volatile Mix.

Savabeel colt Grand Chancellor was beaten under a length in the Chairman’s Stakes having previously won the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) and is drawn barrier two with Noel Callow aboard on Saturday.

Pentire colt Volatile Mix has now had two Adelaide runs leading up to the Derby and represents last year’s winning trainer Weir who is having another outstanding season.

Weir has also accepted for another Rebel Raider progeny, Rockstar Rebel coming off a second at Bendigo over 2200m under big weight.

See below for the full SA Derby 2017 field, barriers and jockeys with updated betting markets to open shortly at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 South Australian Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw

Morphettville Race 7 (4:25pm) – 13/05/2017