Moonee Valley Vase winner Apulia likely to run again in 2023 Victoria Derby

Fitness won’t be an issue for Apulia when he goes around for the third straight Saturday in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.

Moonee Valley Vase winner Apulia will again be in action in Saturday’s $2m Victoria Derby at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

“The fittest horse in Australia” is set to have his third run in as many Saturdays in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.

The Ben, JD and Will Hayes-trained Apulia has competed on three of the last four Saturday’s but showed the benefit of that hard racing when a dominant winner of last Saturday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).

Apulia’s win prompted TAB to promote him to the second line of Derby betting at $4.50.

Co-trainer JD Hayes said Apulia had come through the Moonee Valley Vase in fine order despite running almost a second quicker than the older horses in the Group 3 JRA Cup on Friday night.

“At this stage he’ll back up,” Hayes, who trains Apulia with his brothers Ben and Will, said.

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“He’s pulled up really well and he’ll get his opportunity if he’s A1 on Saturday.

“He’s probably going to be the fittest horse in Australia backing up three Saturdays in a row but he’s a big, strong colt and we think he can cop it.”

Apulia started his spring campaign with a maiden win at Cranbourne but steadily improved with racing and more ground.

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The only poor run in his preparation was when midfield behind Derby favourite Riff Rocket in the Listed Super Impose Stakes on October 7.

However, Hayes said the stable quickly moved on from that effort where Apulia finished more than seven lengths from the winner.

Apulia too tough in the Vase! 😤

Mark Zahra has a treble on Cox Plate day! 🔥@lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/FFiZGRnVRD

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 28, 2023

“He was five weeks in between runs that day but it wasn’t by design because he flipped over in the barriers and had to jump out again,” Hayes said.

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Apulia finished fourth in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield before his Vase triumph, which Hayes said justified the stable’s faith in the son of Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente running the 2500m of the Derby.

“We’ve always thought, especially being by Fiorente, that he’d stay all day,” Hayes said.

“He just increased our confidence with the way he won on the weekend.

“This was Plan B but it’s working out quite well at this stage.”

Apulia was one of 23 entries for the $2m Victoria Derby.

Moonee Valley Vase runner-up Verdad is also among the entries as is the Chris Waller-trained Cap Ferrat, who finished second to Tom Kitten in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.

The Victoria Derby field will be released on Wednesday morning.

Originally published as Moonee Valley Vase winner Apulia likely to run again in 2023 Victoria Derby