Gunstock stakes Victoria Derby claims at Caulfield

Trainer Chris Waller is tipped to take out the Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) for a third time with the master horseman saddling-up Saturday's favourite Riff Rocket. Waller won the VRC Derby in 2014 with Preferment and was also successful in the feature race on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival last year with Manzoice. On…

Tom Kitten made a one-act affair of the Spring Champion Stakes on Saturday, but fast-forward twelve months and James Cummings won't be surprised to see him line up in a Cox Plate. Godolphin's head trainer has a high opinion of the three-year-old, who gave sire Harry Angel his first Group 1 win in Australia with his demolition job in Sydney's final…

Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman have high hopes for Gates and are prepared to test the colt at Stakes level at Caulfield. A son of Frankel, Gates runs in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on Saturday as a lead-up to a potential start in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 4. Gates will be lining up for only…

Craig Williams rode Future History with confidence to victory in The Bart Cummings at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images Perfection took multiple forms as Future History won his way into the Melbourne Cup field via the Group 3 Bart Cummings at Sandown. Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace nailed the…

The Lindsay Park stable is looking to bounce back after the disappointment of a narrow Cox Plate defeat in the first of three Group 1 races on the opening of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. Mr Brightside was beaten in a deceptive photo finish in the Cox Plate last weekend and the gelding's trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes are looking to…

Robbie Laing is hoping history can repeat with the return of Stars Of Carrum to his Cranbourne stable. Laing prepared Stars Of Carrum early in his career to win the Group 2 Vase at Moonee Valley in 2018 before running second to Extra Brut in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington. Stars Of Carrum left Laing's stable in his four-year-old…

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr won't be aiming too high in the spring with Gunstock despite his impressive win at Caulfield. Gunstock took out the'last bid' Caulfield Cup ballot exemption race, the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) on Wednesday, in easy fashion. Sent out the $2.45 favourite under Jamie Kah, Gunstock registered a three-length win from…

Fifth Position will have his first crack at 2500m when he tackles Saturday's Listed Pakenham Cup. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr will try Fifth Position over a new trip at the latest run in a long campaign in Saturday's $300000 Pakenham Cup (2500m). Fifth Position's preparation started with a third…

Manzoice has won the time-honoured $2million Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday afternoon after a stunning final furlong. Top hoop Michael Dee piloted Chris Waller's three-year-old colt home at the handy odds of $21 (TAB.com.au with a devastating turn of foot, nabbing himself the Caulfield Cup-Victoria Derby Derby double. With the well-backed…

IF it's not the greatest day there is since days were invented, it'll do us till Tuesday. That most glorious of race meetings - VRC Derby Day - is upon us once again. A smorgasbord wrapped in an extravaganza of an afternoon, as steeped in history as in prestige, kicking off Australia's grandest week of racing - Flemington's four-day Melbourne Cup…

Muramasa will be lining up for only his fourth start when he runs in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable is hoping Muramasa can repeat the effort of Hitotsu in the 2022 Victoria Derby. Like Hitotsu last year, Muramasa will wear the same colours that the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt wore to…

Berkeley Square has vindicated trainer Dan O'Sullivan's faith in the three-year-old as a stayer with a fighting win at Moonee Valley. Victory in the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) on Saturday was a precursor to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Sent out the $2.60 favourite under…

Trainer Jason Warren has his eyes on a bigger prize after Grand Pierro took out the Listed Geelong Classic on Wednesday. The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday week now beckons for the three-year-old after he showed his staying prowess to claim victory in Wednesday's 2200m contest. Ridden by Craig Williams, Grand Pierro…

Peter Moody is hopeful Red Sun Sensation can be a Victoria Derby contender after he runs at Flemington The Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington will give trainer Peter Moody a clearer indication of the staying potential of Red Sun Sensation. The 1800m contest on Saturday is considered an important steppingstone to the Group 1 Victoria Derby…

The New Corp Racing and Sports Wagering team have put together an expert panel to give you, the audience the early inside running on feature races in Melbourne and Sydney this spring. The panel of five will be offering their early thoughts on all of the Group 1 races and other feature contests during the spring, through until the end of the…

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable hopes it has learned from their mistake of 12 months earlier with promising three-year-old Artzino. On a path towards the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 29, Artzino broke through for his maiden win in the Ladbrokes Market Control Plate (1500m) at Sandown on Wednesday. Ridden by…

Willowy could be headed for the Kennedy Oaks after her victory in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington James Cummings has labelled lightly-raced Willowy as a promising stayer after her victory in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington. Now the daughter of Kermadec is likely to be given her chance in the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday…

It's here again, the most fabulous day on the Australian turf - Derby Day at Flemington. While the Melbourne Cup is rightfully No 1, and the Cox Plate can lay claim to being the country's top quality race, the Saturday before the first Tuesday in November is where it's at for racing purists. There are four Group 1s - all in a row - on Day One of…

Trainer Archie Alexander believes Teewaters will relish the rise in trip of the Victoria Derby The further he goes the better he will like it is the summation of trainer Archie Alexander about his Victoria Derby hope Teewaters. The son of Dundeel will contest the Group 12500m Classic at Flemington on Saturday and Alexander is confident the…

Victoria Derby Day 2021 is set to kick off the Melbourne Cup Carnival this weekend with fans back in attendance after last year's event was behind closed doors. Saturday's Derby Day will have four Group 1 races including the legendary $2 million Victoria Derby. For racing purists, the Derby Day is a highlight of the year with an abundance of Group…

Godolphin's managing director Vin Cox believes Alegron's placing behind Profondo in the group 1 Spring Champion Stakes is the strongest form line heading into Saturday's VRC Derby. But that's not to say his stable's other contender, Character, is without a chance of his own. Both three-year-olds are by Darley's stallion Teofilo, who has produced…

Trainer Mick Price's adherence to a proven formula has provided the stable another Victoria Derby chance after Gunstock's Neds Classic win. Gunstock is a son of the late Kiwi sire Tavistock, the same sire as Price's 2015 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino. Price also gained plenty of insight into the breed when he briefly trained Tavistock during the…

A full field will greet the starter in this year's G1 Victoria Derby (2500m), with G3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) winner Gunstock drawing horribly in barrier 19. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt will jump from barrier 15 - the second-widest alley - with the field consisting of 16 plus four emergencies. Gunstock will be one of two…

Michael Kent Jnr can't help but think Gunstock has the talent to be targeting better races Tuesday's The Les Carlyon at Flemington, but that does not dampen his enthusiasm for the gelding's return. The four-year-old will be having his first start since his three-length win in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12, from which he…

Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander has Derby aspirations for High Approach who returns to racing at Moonee Valley. A veteran of five starts, High Approach tackles older horses for the first time when he lines up in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m) on Saturday. The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April and the Group 1 South…