Nominations for the 2020 Victoria Derby closed on Tuesday for the October 31 classic with all-in betting on the early entries led by the Godolphin-raced Alcyone.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings chases another win in the 2020 VRC Derby after his 2016 success with Prized Icon (pictured). Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The feature race for three-year-olds held on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Group 1 $2 million AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) attracted 89 potential runners this week.
Trainer James Cummings won the stallion-making event back in 2016 with Prized Icon and early markets suggest he could have another VRC Derby winning for the Royal Blue brigade in the progressive Teofilo colt Alcyone.
Last seen saluting in an 1800m event at Flemington carrying 61kg to victory in late July, prior to that Alcyone ran second to the highly-spruiked Cherry Tortoni who is also among the VRC Derby nominees for 2020.
Alcyone sits top of the latest futures markets on the Group 1 at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $9, while the Patrick Payne-trained Night Of Thunder gelding is at $10.
Undefeated as a juvenile, Cherry Tortoni raced first-up as a three-year-old in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) on September 12 at HQ and suffered his first loss when third to Crosshaven.
He will be after atonement second-up this Friday night under the lights at The Valley contesting a wide-open edition of the Group 2 $200,000 Stutt Stakes (1600m) in another rematch with Alcyone.
The 2020 Stutt Stakes field features a host of other Victoria Derby nominated youngsters including the Peter Moody-trained Glenfiddich and Flying Award.
Comeback horseman Moody, of Black Caviar fame, won the 2001 Victoria Derby with Amalfi and could salute again 19 years on with Glenfiddich among his dual Group 1 placegetter Glenfiddich coming off a first-up third in the Memsie Stakes.
Flying Award meanwhille is one of seven VRC Derby entries for recent Fred Hoysted Medallist Danny O’Brien.
The Shamus Award colt won a 1400m Black-Type on ANZAC Day before a first-up second behind gun filly Immortal Love in the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) on August 29 at Caulfield.
Also among O’Brien’s VRC Derby contingent is the untapped Young Werther, another early favourite in betting despite the Tavistock gelding having had just the one run to date when saluting on debut at Geelong earlier in the month.
Trainer Mick Price chases his second success following that of Tarzino (2015) and his first in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, the stable nominating for nine three-year-olds including the undefeated Cambourne.
First acceptances for the VRC Derby close on Tuesday October 20, 2020.
Click here for the latest all-in 2020 Victoria Derby betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 Victoria Derby Nominations
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24431×82 | ACHIEVER | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 2 | 2 | AIDENABET | G | 3 | Stephen Hill | |
| 3 | 444×5 | AIN’TNODEELDUN |
C | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | |
| 4 | 12x3x | ALBARADO (NZ) | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 5 | 382x1x | ALBUKHTURI (NZ) | C | 3 | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | |
| 6 | 2021x | ALCYONE | C | 3 | James Cummings | |
| 7 | 0 | ARTILLERY FORCE | G | 3 | Kane Harris | |
| 8 | 31×1 | AYSAR | C | 3 | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | |
| 9 | 35×52 | AZALY | C | 3 | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | |
| 10 | 71x | BAK DA MAN (NZ) | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 11 | 3x66x11x | BLAZE A TRAIL | C | 3 | Matthew Vella | |
| 12 | 5×005 | BORN TO SUCCEED | C | 3 | Saab Hasan | |
| 13 | 117 | BUCHAREST | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 14 | 21 | CADENABBIA | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 15 | 05×37 | CAESARS PALACE | R | 3 | Anthony Cummings | |
| 16 | 11 | CAMBOURNE | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 17 | 21x | CAPTAIN CORELLI (NZ) | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 18 | 3×16525 | CELESTIAL SOL |
C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 19 | CEMENTED (NZ) | G | 3 | Paul Rocke | ||
| 20 | 8 | CETSHWAYO | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | |
| 21 | 111×3 | CHERRY TORTONI | G | 3 | Patrick Payne | |
| 22 | 3441x | CHOIR | C | 3 | James Cummings | |
| 23 | 2010 | CLINCHED | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 24 | 2 | CRACKERJACK PRINCE |
C | 3 | Archie Alexander | |
| 25 | 2123×24 | CROWN MINT | G | 3 | Gordon Richards | |
| 26 | 452 | DALGARNO (NZ) | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 27 | 23 | DEEPSTRIKE (NZ) | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 28 | DEFIANT CAESOUR | G | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens | ||
| 29 | 95×2 | DUBAI CENTRE | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | |
| 30 | 5×0 | DUBAWI PRINCE | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 31 | 541 | EL SANTO |
G | 3 | Dan O’Sullivan | |
| 32 | 1 | EMBOLISM | C | 3 | Danny O’Brien | |
| 33 | 8×73 | FAVREAU (NZ) | G | 3 | John Sargent | |
| 34 | 311 | FLASH FLOOD |
C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | |
| 35 | 221x2x | FLYING AWARD | C | 3 | Danny O’Brien | |
| 36 | 4x312x | FORMENTERA | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |
| 37 | 6×157 | FRANKIE TWO ANGELS |
G | 3 | Denis Pagan | |
| 38 | 2502162x3x | GLENFIDDICH | C | 3 | Peter G Moody | |
| 39 | 64946×69 | GORSHIN | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings | |
| 40 | 85x | GRAND POPE | G | 3 | Nick Ryan | |
| 41 | 517×4 | GRANDSLAM |
C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | |
| 42 | 18 | HIT THE SHOT | C | 3 | Matt Cumani | |
| 43 | 75x | HORRIFYING (NZ) | C | 3 | Mark Kavanagh | |
| 44 | 2×52 | IMAGINE HOWE |
G | 3 | Robbie Griffiths | |
| 45 | 42×25 | IRONEDGE | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 46 | 33x | JOHNNY BUCCANEER |
G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 47 | 0329 | JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ) | G | 3 | Denis Pagan | |
| 48 | 74 | KENZAN | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | |
| 49 | 24 | LAUGHING GRIZZLEY | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 50 | 6 | LET HIM RIP (NZ) | G | 3 | Levi Kavanagh | |
| 51 | 21x | LET’S KARAKA DEEL (NZ) | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | |
| 52 | 111 | LOVE TAP | G | 3 | Richard & Michael Freedman | |
| 53 | 5x52116x64 | LUNAR FOX |
C | 3 | Paul Preusker | |
| 54 | MADE BY KHAN (NZ) | G | 3 | Matt Laurie | ||
| 55 | 0x17 | MIRAVALLE |
F | 3 | Mark Newnham | |
| 56 | 8x325x2 | NAMAZU | C | 3 | James Cummings | |
| 57 | OATH OF OMERTA | C | 3 | Michael Hickmott | ||
| 58 | 821 | OCEANOGRAPHY (NZ) | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | |
| 59 | 0x422 | PERNELL | C | 3 | Toby & Trent Edmonds | |
| 60 | 23 | POLAND | C | 3 | Michael Moroney | |
| 61 | 8 | PRIVATE WEAPON | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings | |
| 62 | 76×5 | REAL PEACE | C | 3 | Clarry Conners | |
| 63 | 3 | REDWOOD SHADOW (NZ) | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 64 | 53 | RELIABLE DUDE (NZ) | G | 3 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | |
| 65 | 522x | REUBER |
G | 3 | Cindy Alderson | |
| 66 | 24×545 | ROUSSEAU | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 67 | 6×2 | SABOR | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |
| 68 | 32×1 | SAMMY | C | 3 | Kris Lees | |
| 69 | 1×24 | SAUVESTRE | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 70 | 5371 | SHADOW PREY |
G | 3 | Simon Morrish | |
| 71 | 21×418 | SO YOU CAN | G | 3 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | |
| 72 | 92×771 | STREET DANCER | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings | |
| 73 | 6x1x | TALAMO (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael Hickmott | |
| 74 | 6×1 | TANAAWOL (NZ) | C | 3 | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | |
| 75 | 5122 | THE BRUMBY | G | 3 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | |
| 76 | 6x57x1347 | THE PRES |
G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 77 | 81x | TOKEN SPIRIT |
C | 3 | Robbie Griffiths | |
| 78 | 2×76 | TOUR OF DUTY | C | 3 | Michael Moroney | |
| 79 | 36 | TRAIL BLAZER | G | 3 | Michael Moroney | |
| 80 | 58×1 | TRODAIRE |
G | 3 | Lloyd Kennewell | |
| 81 | 5 | ULTIMATE EDITION |
G | 3 | John & Chris Ledger | |
| 82 | 792 | VOLATILE STOCK (NZ) | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 83 | 6×17 | WERTHEIMER (NZ) | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 84 | 4x | WISAKA | G | 3 | Michael Moroney | |
| 85 | 651 | WISE COUNSEL |
C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | |
| 86 | 36×25 | YANGTZE RAPIDS |
C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 87 | YESUGEI (NZ) | C | 3 | Danny O’Brien | ||
| 88 | 1 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | |
| 89 | 86x | ZALMATIAN |
C | 3 | Daniel Williams |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
