Complacent, Savvy Nature drift after Derby barrier draw
Victoria Derby favourites Complacent and Savvy Nature have drifted slightly in betting after drawing wide for Saturday’s $1.5 million classic at Flemington.
Complacent was handed gate 16 and Savvy Nature 13 at Wednesday’s barrier draw, but both will come in two spots if the emergencies fail to gain a start.
Prior to the draw both horses were listed as $4.20 joint favourites, but Savvy Nature now holds favouritism at $4.60 ahead of Complacent at $4.80.
Trainer John O’Shea said he was hoping for a draw inside eight for Savvy Nature so he would not have to drift too far back in running.
“The key to this race is there’s a long tail, so we wouldn’t want to be getting too far back,” O’Shea said of Saturday’s Moonee Valley Vase winner.
Complacent, who races closer to the pace, appears more awkwardly placed from the draw in his bid to add another Group One to his victory in the Spring Champion Stakes earlier this month.
The big movers in the market following the draw were Polanski (1) and San Diego (6) and are joint third favourites at $8.
Polanski’s trainer Robbie Laing says he is excited about the chances of Polanski following his strong effort to win the Norman Robinson Stakes.
“I’m trying to keep a lid on it, but the horse is very, very well,” he said.
The Derby is the main event on Saturday’s nine-race card at Flemington, which also features the running of the Mackinnon Stakes, Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Myer Stakes.
Number | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier |
1 | Criterion | D. Payne | C. Williams | 14 |
2 | Complacent | P. Snowden | K. McEvoy | 16 |
3 | Savvy Nature | J. O’Shea | J. McDonald | 13 |
4 | Polanski | R. Laing | H. Bowman | 1 |
5 | Drago | A. Cummings | D. Oliver | 18 |
6 | San Diego | P. Snowden | S. Arnold | 6 |
7 | Honey Steel’s Gold | D. Hayes | L. Nolen | 2 |
8 | Tips and Beers | D. Hayes | B. Prebble | 11 |
9 | Epic Saga | M. Ellerton & S.Zahra | C. Symons | 17 |
10 | Tupac Amaru | P. Snowden | C. Newitt | 12 |
11 | Pinstripe Lane | J. Sadler | N. Rawiller | 3 |
12 | Throw the King | J. Sadler | T. Sadler | 5 |
13 | Thunder Fantasy | A. Cummings | P. Robi | 7 |
14 | Surging Wave | D. Hayes | N. Hall | 15 |
15 | Famechon | M. Moroney | D. Dunn | 4 |
16 | Royal Descent | K. Keys | G. Boss | 12 |
17 (Em) | Cadillac Mountain | P. Moody | D. Stackhouse | |
18 (Em) | Empire Rock | D. Hayes | D. Moor |