Michael Dee keen to get back aboard Victoria Derby winner Manzoice in Saturday’s Australian Derby

Michael Dee has won three of the past four Golden Miles at Bendigo but on Saturday the in-demand jockey will be in Sydney instead chasing more Group 1 success.

Michael Dee aboard Manzoice (light blue) nailed Sharp N Smart in the Victoria Derby last year. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

The Bendigo Golden Mile race day has been kind to Michael Dee in the past, a record the jockey wants to replicate, albeit from afar in Sydney.

Dee, the winner of three of the past four Golden Miles, on Saturday will be reunited with Victoria Derby winner Manzoice at Randwick in the $2m Group 1 Australian Derby (2500m).

“We usually go pretty good at that Bendigo meeting, hopefully we can go just as well in Sydney,” Dee said.

Manzoice, if successful, would become only the fourth horse to complete the classic double, since the Australian Derby moved to the autumn in 1979, alongside Hitotsu (2022), Mahogany (1994) and Dulcify (1979).

“Certainly a good memory (winning the Victoria Derby) hopefully he can find a performance like he did that day,” Dee said.

Manzoice wins the Penfolds Victoria Derby.#DerbyDay#MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/cFhpQjEdzM

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) October 29, 2022

“If he was to, I could see him winning for sure.”

Manzoice has been midfield in both the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) building up to the 2500m.

“He hasn’t really shown that turn of foot, last race he whacked away, but I think the extra run under his belt (has helped) … and it looks an even field,” Dee said.

Manzoice, Mark Twain and Pericles are on the second line of betting with TAB as equal $8 chances behind dominant favourite Sharp ‘N’ Smart.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes last spring before Manzoice toppled him in the Victoria Derby.

The three-year-old Kiwi star has returned with a bang winning the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes and NZ Derby the past two starts.

“He looks special but we’ve beaten him before, no reason why we can’t do it again,” Dee said.

Dee is also booked to ride Osipenko, a $15 chance, for Chris Waller in the $4m Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Four of Dee’s 10 Group 1 winners have been on Waller-trained horses, including Durston in the Caulfield Cup last year.

“It’s been a good little relationship there, he’s certainly the right trainer to be riding for in big races,” Dee said.

Originally published as Michael Dee keen to get back aboard Victoria Derby winner Manzoice in Saturday’s Australian Derby