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The stallion-making Victoria Derby 2025 race headlines the action in Melbourne on Saturday as the Melbourne Cup Carnival gets underway at Flemington and all eyes are on last weekend’s Moonee Valley Vase winner Observer who is dominant favourite in the three-year-old staying showdown.
The Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) is one of three elite levels on the weekend race card at HQ as the countdown to Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup race heats up.
Victoria Derby betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is firmly led by the Ciaron Maher trained Observer at a short $2.10 on the quick back-up after his powerhouse Vase win at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
The progressive Ghaiyyath colt Observer was far too strong for his rivals saluting as the odds-on favourite over the 2040m and looks cherry ripe to go back-to-back on successive Saturdays up in grade and distance.
Improving on his lead-up third in the Caulfield Guineas in the Vase, he was given a bold front-running ride by Mark Zahra to lead the field by a big margin and give a great kick around the home bend holding on to beat the fast-finishing Providence by a half-length.
Efficient (2006) was the last three-year-old to complete the Moonee Valley Vase – VRC Derby double and there’s plenty of money coming for Observer to be the next.
Observer drew a dream in gate four and the flying Zahra sticks aboard in another plus.
The danger occupying the next line of betting at $6 through Ladbrokes.com.au and currently the only other single figure contender also out of the Vase is Providence who was enormous the closing stages running out of his skin to make up all the ground and finish second.
Chris Waller‘s Wootton Bassett colt improved out of sight on his lead-up eighth in the Gloaming Stakes in Sydney relishing the Melbourne way of racing and extra distance in the Vase.
He just ran out of room to run down Observer but could be the value to turn the tables up further in trip this weekend out to hand Waller his fourth VRC Derby victory.
Craig Williams is a nice replacement for J-Mac in the saddle with the only query being the wide gate (12).
Waller will also saddle up one of the dark horses in the Derby field with the consistent Savisanta ($23) looking to break through at a huge price.
The son of Savabeel comes via a third in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on October 23, a race that has produced a number of recent Derby placegetters.
Mark Walker‘s Geelong Classic winner Azazel is also an underrated value runner in the Group 1 on Saturday at $21 to do the double.
Michael Dee sticks aboard the lightly raced and progressive son of former Melbourne Cup winner Shocking who is bred to get the distance.
Another last start winner in the mix with genuine claims is Autumn Mystery ($12) with Rory Hunter‘s The Autumn Sun gelding chasing a hat-trick.
A proven Flemington performer having won at the track two back over 1800m when narrowly beating Engine Of War, he rose in grade last time out to salute in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m).
To date five horses have completed the Caulfield Classic – Victoria Derby double: Omnicorp (1987), Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995), Blackfriars (1999), Amalfi (2001), and most recently Polanski (2013).
Blake Shinn continues associations this weekend, but their chances have been hampered by a nasty barrier 17 draw.
The best of the rest include the Tony & Calvin McEvoy trained Options ($13) who won the Listed Super Impose Stakes at the track before his Vase fifth placing, the Vase third placegetter O’sheamus ($16) for O’Shea & Charlton, Nick Ryan‘s Maurice gelding Miewa ($18) coming off back-to-back seconds in good company, and the early market mover Arabian Prince ($18) to be ridden by Craig Williams from the outside alley.
The 2025 Victoria Derby is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 4:20pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race card.
| 1. Observer (4) J: Mark Zahra57kg 5x231T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Arcora (11) J: John Allen57kg 31005T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 16. Deal Done Fast (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse57kg 244T: Matt Cumani | ||
| 13. One Step Closer (2) J: Jye McNeil57kg x5104T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 6. Providence (12) J: Craig Williams57kg 60382T: Chris Waller | ||
| 14. Savisanta (3) J: Ben Melham57kg 2223T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Miewa (8) J: Jordan Childs57kg 44122T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 3. Autumn Mystery (15) J: Blake Shinn57kg 52211T: Rory Hunter | ||
| 9. O'sheamus (5) J: Kerrin McEvoy57kg x4613T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 5. Options (7) J: Harry Coffey57kg 11315T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | ||
| 11. Engine Of War (9) J: Tommy Berry57kg 3x127T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Highvol (13) J: Jamie Mott57kg 76402T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 10. Amazake (6) J: Declan Bates57kg 7x673T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 15. Mcwoody (14) J: Jamie Melham57kg 15T: Mark Walker | ||
| 12. Matsuda (16) J: Thomas Stockdale57kg 24814T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Azazel (10) J: Michael Dee57kg 141T: Mark Walker |
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
