Derby Day 2019: David Gately gives his best tips for Australia’s best day of racing
Derby Day is widely regarded as the best day of racing on the Australian calendar. And David Gately has some tips that could make it your favourite day of the carnival.
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VRC Derby Day at Flemington is widely regarded as the best pure race day on the Australian calendar.
The day features four massive Group 1 races, with the blue riband event the VRC Derby for three year olds.
The easing favourite is Shadow Hero, who brings an irresistible form line through Castelvecchio, who just beat all-bar one (a star Japanese mare) in a Cox Plate.
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This race day has been enhanced with the emergence of the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes – also for the youngsters. As we have seen, this is an elite crop of three-year-old sprinters.
Adding to the intrigue of a magical Derby Day at Flemington is the running of the inaugural Golden Eagle at Rosehill in Sydney.
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The race, for four-year-olds, offers a whopping $7.5 million in prizemoney. It has attracted an outstanding list of combatants.
TRACK PATTERNS
FLEMINGTON
All ratings for Flemington are for a good track. The rail is in the true position. It was out 9m here on October 5 and it was advantageous to be on-pace and on the inside for the most part. The last true rail here was September 14th. There was no obvious bias that day.
ROSEHILL
In Sydney the ratings are again for a good track. The rail is true, just as it was on September 28 – the last meeting here – and while the track played well it was no disadvantage to be on those inside lanes.
GATOR’S BEST BETS
VRC DERBY - Flemington, Race 7, 3.45pm
Gator’s tip: SHADOW HERO
Powered through the line to win Gloaming Stakes and was then ridden a long way out in the Group 1 Spring Chmpion Stakes. But he just gets stronger as the race goes on. In fact, his last 200m split was faster than that of Castelvecchio and that super smart three-year-old just beat home some elite, older horses in a Cox Plate. He should relish 2500m. Top pick.
EMPIRE ROSE STAKES - Flemington, Race 5, 2.20pm
Gator’s tips: FIDELIA and PRINCESS JENNI
Two mares who look to be a great price in a very tough race. Fidelia was the closer in an on-pace race last start and is finally out to 1600m and gets blinkers on. Princess Jenni was a hardluck story in a Toorak Handicap and beat key rivals here very well around The Valley prior.
COOLMORE STUD STAKES - Flemington, Race 6, 3pm
Gator’s tip: EXCEEDANCE
Beat Bivouac fresh and then had track pattern against him when second up. Charged late in very fast Group 1 Golden Rose and that form was well franked, with runner-up Yes Yes Yes going to the $14 million Everest and beating world-class older horses – and broke the Randwick track record! Blinkers go on here. Suspect he will love the straight track.
GOLDEN EAGLE - Rosehill, Race 7, 4.15pm
Gator’s tip: ARCADIA QUEEN
Forget her defeat in the Everest, she was ridden way out of her comfort zone close to that very strong speed. In fact, going back and examining her Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes win in WA (also run at a fast speed), she went through her first 600m some 20 lengths faster in the Everest than she did that day in WA. She had no finish to give. Her first-up win was excellent. Now at 1500m, she is clear top pick for me.
OTHER RACES:
WAKEFUL STAKES - Flemington, Race 2, 12.20pm
Gator’s tip: FLIT
She is the class act here. Great chase to win the Thousand Guineas and now gets to 2000m. Stable gave serious consideration to running her in a Cox Plate, so doubt the trip pulls her up. She is 34 rating points clear of her rivals and should be giving them 17kg on the handicap scale.
CANTALA MILE - Flemington, Race 8, 4.35pm
Gator’s tip: NIGHT’S WATCH
Ended up in an awkward spot in the Toorak Handicap, then played for luck and had his momentum stopped on more than one occasion before rushing late. If he jumps clean he can sit closer. He is in well in on the relative weights and a great value play.
REDZEL STAKES - Rosehill, Race 8, 5pm
Gator’s tip: DEPRIVE
Measured up very well in WFA last time, flying home off a modest tempo and running amazing closing splits – running past Brutal who had just beaten Classique Legend and Co.