Victoria Derby 2020: Danny O’Brien to follow Russian Camelot path with Young Werther
Danny O’Brien will follow “the Russian Camelot program” with Young Werther as the three-year-old heads into the Victoria Derby after only two starts.
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Victoria Derby favourite Young Werther will attempt to win Saturday’s classic by using an unconventional preparation mirroring stablemate Russian Camelot’s South Australian Derby success.
Scratched from the Drummond Vase at The Valley on Saturday because of a soft track, Young Werther will bid for Derby glory over 2500m at Flemington at only his third start — and having never raced beyond 1800m.
Trainer Danny O’Brien will work the gelding on the course proper at Headquarters on Tuesday, bidding to repeat his autumn triumph with Russian Camelot at Morphettville in May.
O’Brien was forced to change tack with Russian Camelot after a barrier scratching at Caulfield in April led to a revision of plans.
Five days later, he bolted in at Pakenham in a 1600m benchmark 64.
A month later, at only his fifth career start and third run of the preparation, the import sat three-wide and swept to SA Derby (2500m) victory.
O’Brien on Sunday confirmed Young Werther was a definite Victoria Derby contender.
TAB opened the three-year-old at $4.20 on Sunday morning.
By midday, his price had tightened to $4.
Young Werther’s only two starts have yielded a 1500m maiden win at Geelong before a luckless second in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington behind Khoekhoe last month.
Khoekhoe doggedly chased Cherry Tortoni to the line in the Drummond Vase at The Valley,
Cherry Tortoni is Victoria Derby second favourite at $5.50 behind Young Werther.
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Originally published as Victoria Derby 2020: Danny O’Brien to follow Russian Camelot path with Young Werther