Mark Zahra says China Sea looks a good fit for the Victoria Derby

Most runners fail to run out the Victoria Derby distance, but Mark Zahra is confident his ride can be right in the finish.

Star jockey Mark Zahra will know by the halfway point whether he has any hope of winning Saturday’s Victoria Derby.

Zahra has excelled in staying races in recent years, winning the last two Melbourne Cups, two Caulfield Cups as well as the Australian Oaks and South Australian Derby.

He said those races were all won in the first half of proceedings.

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Zahra said the fact all runners were on trial at the 2500m of the Victoria Derby made it more important to get it right in the first half of the race.

“The main thing for a Derby is to get a horse to relax and be strong enough to run 2500(m).

It’s a bit like the Melbourne Cup, three-quarters of them get ruled out straight away,” Zahra said.

“Like the Melbourne Cup, when the horses are a query on the trip, the main thing is just to get them to settle.

“That’s what you spend the first half of the race doing, conserving energy and, if you’ve done that part right, you’re a chance in the last half.

“If you’ve had to work or the horse races keenly, you usually know your fate halfway through the race.”

China Sea is a $16 chance in the Victoria Derby. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

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Zahra will ride China Sea for Sydney trainer John Sargent in Saturday’s edition of the Derby.

The Randwick-based Sargent has enjoyed great success with staying three-year-olds, winning the VRC, Australian and Queensland Oaks with fillies.

Zahra said he rode China Sea, who was narrowly beaten over 2000m at Caulfield last time out, in a gallop earlier this week.

He said the son of Fastnet Rock gave him the impression he would settle well at his first try at 2500m.

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“He definitely fits the right profile for a Derby,” Zahra said.

“He’s a big, strong horse and has got the right trainer.

“He’s drawn a nice barrier (seven) and he gave me a good feel in his work,

“That was the first time I’d been on him and he’s a strong horse.”

Ladbrokes rated China Sea a $16 chance in Derby betting.

Zahra said the gelding could outperform the bookmakers’ assessment in Saturday’s $2m even.

“I think he can run the 2500(m) so I think he’s a top five chance for sure.”

Originally published as Mark Zahra says China Sea looks a good fit for the Victoria Derby