Can Hampton Court Break Victoria Derby Favourites’ Hoodoo?

This Saturday in Melbourne the Gai Waterhouse-trained Hampton Court will jump clear favourite in the 2014 Victoria Derby but can the young gun break the historical hoodoo on the top fancies in the classic?

Hampton Court is out to hand Gai Waterhouse with her first Victoria Derby win since 1995. Photo: Steve Hart.

There is a capacity field of three-year-olds engaged for this year’s $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m), which will be the 160^th running of the staying test.

Recent history shows that in the past 10 years just two Victoria Derby winners jumped as favourite or equal favourite with Efficient (2006) and Plastered (2004).

Plastered started equal favourite in the race and was the third punters’ pick on the trot to salute following on from the success of Elvstorem (2003) and Helenus (2002).

Like Polanski did last year, Redoute’s Choice colt Hampton Court comes off back-to-back wins ahead of his Derby bid the most recent of which was in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

He pays $2.80 sitting top of the latest Victoria Derby odds at Ladbrokes.com.au and is looking to emulate Monaco Consul (2009) who was the last Spring Champion Stakes winner to back up and take out the VRC Derby.

Waterhouse also achieved the Spring Champion – Derby double with her top galloper Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995) so can she do it again nearly 20 years on with Hampton Court?

Horse Racing Tip Hampton Court is out to be the first favourite since Efficient (2006) to become the first Victoria Derby favourite to salute for the punters

Victoria Derby Horse Form: #1 Hampton Court

Barrier: 11
Weight: 55.5kg
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse
Owners: Milburn Creek Thoroughbred Stud, Mr P E Mason, Manoc Developments Pty Limited, Mr P J Ramsay, Belford Productions Pty Ltd, Mrs K J Shadbolt, Mr P C Shadbolt, Mrs K Mason
Age: 3YO
Gender: Colt
Breeding: by Redoute’s Choice from Roses ‘N’ Wine
Career: 9-3-1-1
Win: 33%
Place: 56%
Last 6: x83411
Prize Money: $361,480
Track: 0-0-0-0
Distance: 0-0-0-0
Current 2014 Victoria Plate Odds: $3.80F

Why Hampton Court Can Win the 2014 Victoria Derby

Gai Waterhouse prepared Nothin’ Leica Dane to win the 1995 Victoria Derby and rates Hampton Court as her best chance in the age old classic since
Has one of the better win (33%) and place (56%) rates of the field
Comes off back-to-back wins like Polanski did 12 months ago
Won the Spring Champion Stakes at Group 1 level in Sydney last start which Waterhouse’s ’95 Derby champ also did
The last horse to achieve the Spring Champion Stakes – Derby double meanwhile was Monaco Consul (2009)
Three of the past five Victoria Derby winners contested the Spring Champion Stakes as well
Wearing the #1 saddlecloth is a statistical advantage with 15 of the past 21 winners having carried numbers 1 – 4

Why Hampton Court Won’t Win the 2014 Victoria Derby

Drawn wide in barrier 11 which is the widest gate he’s drawn this season and last produced a winner in 2005 with Benicio
Kerrin McEvoy is yet to ride a Victoria Derby winner and hasn’t been aboard Hampton Court this season
McEvoy is the sixth jockey in as many starts to ride Hampton Court
A favourite hasn’t won the Victoria Derby since Efficient ($2.40 in 2006)
Roughies have a nice recent record too including Fiveandahalfstar ($41 in 2012)
Hasn’t raced at Flemington with Saturday his Melbourne debut and also hasn’t been up over the distance before

Think the favourite can salute in this year’s Victoria Derby and want to back Hampton Court at the best possible odds?

Then visit Ladbrokes.com.au and back him before the markets firm.

Alternatively take advantage of Ladbrokes’ Favourite v Field markets where you can back any other runner to win at $1.28!