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The Robbie Laing trained Stars Of Carrum zoomed into contention for the 2018 Victoria Derby with an upset win in the Group 2 $200,000 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at The Valley today.
Ben Melham. above, was aboard $51 outsider Stars Of Carrum in the Drummond Golf Vase at The Valley. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
The $51 outsider Stars Of Carrum got the judge’s nod in a tight photo over the well supported Savoie ($4) with the $2.90 favourite Aramayo running into third post.
Winning jockey Ben Melham gave Stars Of Carrum a trouble free run and the Fiorente colt burst out of the pack at the top of the straight to challenge the likely winner Savoie who had dashed to the front on the home turn.
Stars Of Carrum responded to Melham’s vigour and got his head down in the right position to secure the major prize and his place in next Saturday’s Group 1 $2m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
Laing won the 2013 Victoria Derby with Polanski and the Cranbourne trainer now has a real chance to win another with Stars Of Carrum who has firmed in from $34 to be marked at $8 with Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2018 Classic.
“He has worked the place down this week,” Laing said.
“We are a week away and he is one of the favourites.”
“We had to go over to Adelaide, it wasn’t fantastic for him, he lost a bit of weight.”
“He is a tough horse, we served it up to him and he will there next week running over them.”
Laing said he would not have to do much work with Stars Of Carrum over the next week in the lead up to the Victoria Derby and all he has to do is maintain his fitness.
“He is very fit, a solid 2040m gallop today and we will just make sure he feels like running.”
