David Murphy can see long-range Derby forecast coming to fruition for Shotacross The Bow

DAVID Murphy left Doomben trackwork on Tuesday morning convinced his 12-month Derby plan is set to come to fruition with budding stayer Shotacross The Bow.

Shotacross The Bow is on track for the Derby.

DAVID Murphy left Doomben trackwork on Tuesday morning convinced his 12-month Derby plan is set to come to fruition with budding stayer Shotacross The Bow.

“As soon as he won the mile race last year I thought he was a Derby horse,” Murphy said of the three-year-old, who has been tried at double figures to win Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate.

“The initial plan was to run in the Magic Millions Guineas over the summer, but that didn’t work out and it all went pear-shaped for a bit. This time everything has gone right.”

Murphy, Queensland’s champion apprentice of 1986-87 when he finished third in the jockey’s premiership, rides Shotacross The Bow in all his work and felt a noticeable difference on Tuesday at Doomben.

“That was as good as he’s ever worked and I thought then that if he drew a barrier, he would not be an 80-1 chance in the Derby come Saturday night,” he said.

“In his work he loves chasing down other horses and I think from the barrier, with Chris Waller’s horse (Mackintosh) likely to go forward with a couple of others, he can get the nice run behind them.

“If he can relax in the run, he’s going to finish off hard.”

Originally published as David Murphy can see long-range Derby forecast coming to fruition for Shotacross The Bow