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Derby Day pointers

Derby Day at Flemington, the most magnificent day of racing in the world (yes, I am biased). Courtesy of those clever chaps @TheTrialFiles, here are some pointers for the great day. Find more of their great work on their website.

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DERBY DAY POINTERS

RACE 1 – Carbine Club Stakes – 1600M

• 2012 winner (Lunar Rise – H Bowman/B Cummings)
• Best recent lead up has been the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield and it was the race won by Hucklebuck this year.
• Form always follows onto the Sandown Guineas.
• Favourites or horses hard in the market have been tough to beat.
• Bart has won it multiple times, with Saintly the most famous although Think Big won it too.

RACE 2 – Wakeful Stakes – 2000M

• 2012 winner (Zydeco – K McEvoy/A Freedman)
• Sensational pointer to the Oaks (four dual winners since 2004) plus many other winners coming though the race.
• Dear Demi was unlucky not to win last year but was able to turn the tables on Zydeco five days later.
• Most winners come out of the Thousand Guineas.
• Only Zanbagh and Quayside of the top 13 in the Oaks market are not running.

RACE 3 – Lexus Stakes – 2500M

• 2012 winner (Kelinni – N Rawiller/C Waller)
• Had an amazing amount of name changes but the Registered name is the Hotham Hcp.
• Famously the edition in 1956 was a Triple Dead Heat.
• Form from the race has been a great guide to the Melbourne Cup (Kelinni, Maluckyday, Shocking, Maybe Better, Brew)
• Kelinni was 2nd in Metrop after winning the Colin Stephen and 4th in Wyong Cup in 2012 – with some other runs in between Julienas has exactly the same placings.

RACE 4 – Coolmore Stud Stakes – 1200M

• 2012 winner (Nechita – C Reith/J Thompson)
• Formerly known as the Ascot Vale Stakes but became a G1 and moved to Derby Day in 2006.
• Fillies had not had a great record in the race before 2002 but since have seen Innovation Girl, Alinghi, Gold Edition, Headway and Nechita win.
• Sydney 3yo sprint form has held up well.
• Divine Calling has beaten home the Cox Plate winner at his last two runs.
• Three horses under double figures in the Golden Rose are entered plus Thermal Current who was 25-1 that day.

RACE 5 – Longines Mackinnon Stakes – 2000M

• 2012 winner (Alcopop – C Williams/J Stephens)
• Has lost its traditional importance as the Melbourne Cup lead up race, in fact the whole day had very few Cup runners engaged in 2012.
• While So You Think backed up to win after the Cox Plate, Better Loosen Up was the previous one in 1990.
• Gai Waterhouse has a tremendous record in the race but no runners in 2013.
• Leading has been a good option.
• Last mare to win was La Bella Dama 12 years ago at 30-1.

RACE 6 – AAMI Victoria Derby – 2500M

• 2012 winner (Fiveandahalfstar – D Oliver/A Cummings)
• Besides Monaco Consul, every winner from 2008 onwards has been double-figure odds.
• Kiwis won three in a row recently and had the short favourite last year.
• The Caulfield Guineas/Derby double hasn’t been done since Helenus in 2002.
• The Vase has been the best guide and if they run a time close to or better than the Cox Plate, it is even more so (Savvy Nature was only 0.53 seconds slower than the Plate).
• Trifecta from the Spring Champion entered versus the first seven home from the Norman Robinson – is it Sydney or Melbourne form?
• Cadillac Mountain is the full brother to 2008 Derby winner Rebel Raider.

RACE 7 – Myer Classic – 1600M

• 2012 winner (Appearance – M Rodd/G Walter)
• Guy Walter had three in the race last year and the outsider won.
• Sydney mares have won four of last five.
• Few fillies run but have a poor record – Alinghi was beaten in it as a $1.70 favourite in 2004.
• Favourite Red Tracer has had four goes at a mile with a third in the Epsom two years back her best placing.

RACE 8 – Yellowglen Stakes – 1200M

• 2012 winner (Fontelina – V Duric/A Cummings)
• Formerly the Linlithgow and then was swapped over with the WFA race (now on the last day).
• Light weights have been important.
• Much of the form comes from Brisbane and Adelaide in the Autumn/Winter period – that has been very strong this Spring.

RACE 9 – TAB.com.au Stakes (Chatham Stakes) – 1400M

• 2012 winner (Fawkner – N Hall/R Hickmott)
• Fawkner won the Caulfield Cup over 1000m further 50 weeks later.
• Top guide to the Emirates with plenty of horses running well in both.
• Epsom form has been electric this Spring but only Riva De Lago runs here.

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