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The big Victoria Derby is the highlight of day and one of the top races across the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Cantala Stakes rounds out the Group 1 proceedings for the day following the Derby. Join The Roar for all the live race updates and results from 3:50pm (AEDT).
Sacred Elixir takes favouritism into the big Victoria Derby, the main event of the day.
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She comes in as one of the most consistent form runners in the field with three wins from her last four starts, not to mention winning her first Group 1 as a two-year-old.
A win at the Super Vase ahead of Derby Day rivals Morvada, So Si Bon and Prized Icon has her shaping up as the horse to beat when the barriers drop.
Swear is only four races into his career, but a pair of wins and a last start second place has him lining up as a real threat despite tackling a longer distance than usual.
He finished half a length behind Yankee Rose at the Spring Champions Stakes a few weeks back but did break away from Prized Icon late to take some strong form against Derby opposition.
So Si Bon came in third behind Sacred Elixir in the aforementioned Super Vase but is still coming in as a strong contender for the win.
With Cox Plate-winning jockey Hugh Bowman taking the reigns and a solid barrier draw at 11, So Si Bon has the explosive finishing pace to put on a show and ride to a good result.
The king of consistency, Rocketeer has racked up four second-place finishes in a row.
Even though the three-year-old does have a win to his name earlier this year, by four lengths no less, that current run of being the bridesmaid will be motivation enough for trainer Mick Price to drive the best preparation possible into the horse for the Derby.
He’s proven he can run hard and fast when it counts and he has every chance at taking this one out from underneath the favourites in the field.
The Odds
Sacred Elixir is the big short-priced favourite for the Derby, sitting in at a very confident $2.80 for the win, comfortably ahead of the next best in Swear at $7.50.
The only other runner in the 20-horse field in single figures is So Si Bon, who is back at $9.
Prized Icon and Beach Life share $15, just behind Inference at $14.
Rocketeer has been moving all over the shop throughout the week, currently sitting at $16, but expect that to keep moving around as we get closer to race time.
Prediction
Sacred Elixir has been on fire as of late and has proven results against the Derby field.
So Si Bon and Swear should do well to control the pace for the most part, but if they’re slow to react on the Elixir jump towards the final stretch, then they could be fighting over place finishes.
1. Sacred Elixir
2. So Si Bon
3. Rocketeer
The United States, who is funnily enough from Ireland, bounced back incredibly well from illness through September and October to take a confidence-boosting win at the Crystal Mile last weekend.
Taking home the field by a length on the same 1600-metre distance the seven-year-old will be contesting on Derby Day, he’s proven himself a very strong short-distance runner despite traditionally running over 2000 metres throughout his career.
He’s Our Rokkii will be the one to watch in this contest.
Six wins from his last seven starts, including five in a row and three at this distance, He’s Our Rokkii has been one of the standout horses of the year.
Three and a half lengths ahead of the field in the Sheen Group Handicap was followed up with a tighter win in a much stronger field at the Group 1 Toorak Handicap a few weeks ago.
A last-place finish for Palentino at the Epsom Handicap can be forgotten, after the four-year-old looked genuinely lost in his last start and struggled home at the back of the field.
Prior to that, he was just beginning to kick up some form with a fantastic win on this very same track at the very same distance, taking out the Makybe Diva Stakes by a length.
Le Romain finished strong at the Epsom to come in fifth, just a length behind the winner Hauraki. He’s one to keep an eye on from barrier eight.
Voodoo Lad has really flown under the radar in the lead up to this race despite bringing 17 place finishes in a row into the day, including nine victories.
The gelding took home a sensational finish at the Moonga Stakes to win by a length and a half in his last start, and can certainly keep that run of finishes alive.
The Odds
The United States and Palentino occupy the top spots to take out the race, paying $6 and $7.50 respectively for the win.
He’s Our Rokkii is closing in at $8 with Mackintosh just behind at $9.50.
It gets a little crowded from there. Seaburge ($10), Le Romain ($12), Voodoo Lad ($12), Mccreery ($14) and Hopfgarten ($14) are all nestled in together in what is slated to be a bit of a blanket finish.
Prediction
It could go a couple of ways.
He’s Our Rokkii and The United States could dominate the race and blow the field away, or because it’s just such a tight field behind them, it could go anywhere and any number of runners can take the post.
Rokkii has been on my radar for a while now and he’s just in such good form as of late, it’ll be a tough ask to end the winning streak just yet.
The United States has the speed and patience to make this race work, but it should be a fairly tight finish for everyone in the final hundred metres.
1. He’s Our Rokkii
2. The United States
3. Le Romain
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