Chris Waller and Manzoice stop James McDonald juggernaut in Victoria Derby upset at Flemington

James McDonald was looking invincible at Flemington but he was powerless to stop Chris Waller outsider Manzoice in the Victoria Derby.

Manzoice and Michael Dee (outside) deny favourite Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos via Getty Images

Only one force was capable of stopping a white-hot James McDonald in Saturday’s Victoria Derby.

The Chris Waller stable.

McDonald looked set to post his fifth win in the first seven races in an amazing start to the Melbourne Cup Carnival with 100m left to run in the $2m event.

He’d taken Spring Champion Stakes winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart to the lead in the Derby with his main rivals Berkeley Square and Mr Maestro covered on his outside.

But the seemingly invincible McDonald was powerless as fellow Kiwi expatriate Michael Dee surged past him on Manzoice, producing a minor upset on the $21 chance.

That was dominant from In Secret, taking out the Coolmore Stud Stakes! #DerbyDay#CupWeekOn10pic.twitter.com/IHZGMWxj5N

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Manzoice’s success gave Chris Waller his second Victoria Derby, and stable representative Charlie Duckworth said the victory was the result of a long-range plan.

“Terrific performance from the horse,” Duckworth said.

“It’s been the plan all the way through and things haven’t gone his way with wide draws and wet tracks but we’ve stuck solid with the plan that we set out to do.

“It’s a massive thing. Obviously there’s a Derby in different states but this is the first one and it’s Derby Day – the raceday is named after the race.

“It’s the feature, it’s the grand final and to pull it off is quite remarkable really.”

Michael Dee riding Manzoice to victory in the Victoria Derby. Picture: Daniel Pockett-Getty Images

Dee’s win on Manzoice continued his terrific spring that also included his biggest win on the Waller-trained Durston in the $5m Caulfield Cup earlier this month.

Dee said his confidence grew when he saw Manzoice in the mounting before the race.

“Walking around the yard I thought he’s certainly a Derby horse,” Dee said.

“He’s just so calm, got such a big stride on him and it all panned out. He was very strong.”

“He’s a big strong horse and he was able to buffet his way out and I always was confident he was going to be strong the last furlong too.”

Dee will attempt to claim yet another career-defining win on the Grahame Begg-trained Lunar Flare in Tuesday’s $8m Melbourne Cup.

Michael Dee gives the Derby trophy a kiss. Picture: Darrian Traynor-Getty Images

“If you said to me before this spring that I’d have two major Group 1s coming up,” Dee said.

“I’d probably laugh. It is pretty surreal and hopefully it can continue.”

McDonald made no excuses for Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s defeat.

“He went brilliant, just got a little bit lost in front,” McDonald said.

Cranbourne three-year-old Aberfeldie Boy continued his rapid improvement over staying trips with his fast-finishing third for trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock.

Aberfeldie Boy was held up behind tiring horses early in the straight before jockey Ben Melham eased him across the track before the three-year-old charged home to finish third at $101.

“Should have gone close,” Aberfeldie Boy’s jockey Ben Melham said.

Originally published as Chris Waller and Manzoice stop James McDonald juggernaut in Victoria Derby upset at Flemington