Reigning Victoria Derby winner Tarzino has come up trumps with a better-than-midfield barrier six drawn in his attempt to win another three-years-old classic in this Saturday’s Australian Derby 2016 at Randwick Racecourse.

Rosehill Guineas winner last time out Tarzino shoots for more Sydney Group 1 success in the 2016 ATC Derby at Randwick on the weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The last horse to complete the Victorian Derby – Australian Derby double in a season was Dulcify back in 1978-79, but the Mick Price-trained Tarzino is short-priced favourite to break the drought with success in the second leg this weekend.

A final field of only 13 three-year-olds are in the mix for this year’s $2 million Group 1 BMW Australian Derby (2400m) that runs as Randwick Race 7 at 3:50pm (AEDT) on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’.

Tarzino is clear favourite in Australian Derby betting at bookmakers around the country after the Tavistock colt put the writing on the wall with a smart one and three-quarter length win in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last time out.

That was his fourth career win at start number nine, and this weekend he is drawn to win again with Craig Newitt retaining the ride from a nice barrier six draw that last produced an Australian Derby winner in Headturner (2006).

The other best fancied in ATC Derby markets is the sole filly in the mix this autumn, Ciaron Maher’s VRC Oaks winner Jameka.

She didn’t have the same luck in the ATC Derby barrier draw, the daughter of Myboycharlie drawn in barrier 12 as she looks to be the first filly to win since Shamrocker (2011).

While connections originally were hoping for a draw closer to the fence, Jameka did such a good job from barrier 14 of 14 when third in the Rosehill Guineas that the double-digit alley shouldn’t present a problem on the weekend.

Damien Oliver stays on her in the Derby shooting for his second win in the race after success back in 2002 aboard the Lee Freedman-trained Don Edurado.

The last of the single figure Australian Derby fancies this season is the in-form John O’Shea-trained Tally who has won all four of his starts this time in.

Jumping from barrier nine, the gate Ethiopia won from in 2012, with James McDonald aboard the flying Street Cry colt was last seen winning the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley on March 18.

McDonald rode It’s A Dundeel (2013) to victory three years ago and replaces Craig Williams aboard Tally this Saturday.

Untested in Sydney, Tally has his first run outside of Victoria in the mile and a half feature that is also his first look at further than 2040m.

If successful, he will be just the second Australian Derby winner to come off a Melbourne lead-up in over 30 years, the other being the aforementioned Ethiopia who ran second in the Alister Clark before his win as a $14 hope.

Along with Tally, O’Shea and the Godolphin stable have also accepted for last October’s Victoria Derby runner-up Etymology (barrier five).

The New Approach colt has had three unplaced runs this time in including his sixth in the Rosehill Guineas, but is looking to improve sharply stepping up to the mile and a half.

The other most notable hopes are the Chris Waller-trained Spring Champion Stakes winner Vanbrugh (barrier eight) coming off a Rosehill Guineas fourth and Kiwi raider What’s The Story (barrier two) last seen crossing second in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) in early March.

Check out the full Australian Derby 2016 field, barriers and jockeys below then visit our preferred sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au for access to the best betting odds and promos this autumn!

2016 Australian Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw

Randwick Race 7 (3:50pm) – 02/04/2016