Flemington will host the precursor to the Melbourne Cup this Saturday, with the running of the $2 million Victoria Derby.
The race will be run over 2500m and features the best three-year-old horses in the country under set-weight conditions.
The winning connections will take home $1.2 million, with Hitotsu taking out last year's event. Other past winners include Warning, Efficient, Mahogany and Dulcify.
The feature event on the updated stacked nine-race card at Flemington will be run at 4.20pm AEDT.
Play Central, watch all 3 sky racing channels live on the TAB app.
Victoria Derby 2022 Field, Barriers and Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of TAB, correct as of 1:00 pm AEDT, October 29th.
| RUNNER (BARRIER) | JOCKEY | TRAINER | ODDS |
| 1. Sharp N Smart (3) | James McDonald | G & D. Rogerson | $3.50 |
| 2. Berkeley Square (5) | Craig Williams | Dan O'Sullivan | $3.50 |
| 4. Mr Maestro (16) | Damian Lane | Andrew Forsman | $7.00 |
| 5. Pericles (6) | Will Buick | James Cummings | $7.00 |
| 6. Grand Pierro (14) | Mark Zahra | Jason Warren | $26 |
| 7. Manzoice (7) | Michael Dee | Chris Waller | $17 |
| 8. Foujita San (8) | Jye McNeil | M, W & J. Hawkes | $23 |
| 9. Skyphios (13) | Harry Coffey | Rob Blacker | $61 |
| 10. Muramasa (4) | Daniel Moor | T.Busuttin/N.Young | $18 |
| 11. Fearless Knight (10) | Brett Prebble | Kacy Fogden | $81 |
| 12. Berardino (9) | Damien Oliver | T.Busuttin/N.Young | $41 |
| 13. Distrustful Award (11) | Dean Yendall | Paul Preusker | $31 |
| 14. Highland Blaze (12) | Liam Riordan | Jackson Pallot | $151 |
| 15. King's Crossing (15) | John Allen | Danny O'Brien | $41 |
| 16. Lehndorff (1) | Josh Parr | Mark Newnham | $71 |
| 17. Aberfeldie Boy (2) | Ben Melham | R.Griffiths/M.Kock | $71 |
Victoria Derby 2022 tips
It's always tough to pick a winner in the Derby, but we're going to do our very best for the punters at The Sporting News after finding the Cox Plate quinella and Manikato Stakes winner last weekend.
Berkeley Square ($3.30) is the betting favourite and rightfully so, winning four of six career starts and finishing an impressive fourth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. The gelding will be boosted by the ride of Craig Williams, who has been in good touch, and was able to beat home a few of his rivals in the G2 Vase Stakes.
The emergence of Sharp N Smart ($3.50) as a potential contender hasn't gone unnoticed, with narrow wins in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes and G3 Gloaming Stakes this preparation. The gelding will be on the quick back-up and heads down to Melbourne with the always-strong Sydney form behind him. With superstar jockey James McDonald picking up the ride, he will be right in the mix.
Also near the top of the market is Mr Maestro ($7.00), who has won three races in a row but will need to overcome the widest gate to make it four on the trot. Racing expert Ryan Phelan is backing the Kiwi-trained colt to take out the race.
“The main chances – Sharp N Smart, Berkeley Square and Mr Maestro – have all come through different lead-up races," he told The Sporting News.
"I think the best of those is Mr Maestro, trained by expert staying Kiwi conditioner Andrew Forsman, this horse is going for three in a row.
"His last start-start performance in the Norman Robinson suggests to me that the extra distance will suit. He is a classy colt who handles all track conditions, and for me he is the one to beat."
Foujita San ($23) appeals as a decent each-way chance despite a disappointing run in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, finishing 3.3 lengths behind the impressive winner Golden Mile. The colt will be fourth-up for this race and is yet to win during this preparation, but should be at peak fitness.
"I’m also backing a roughie with a bit of confidence – Foujita San," Phelan said.
"This horse has had excuses in all three runs this preparation, and each time he looks like he has been crying out for extra distance. I think at odds of around 20-1, he is a really good each-way bet."
The lightly-raced Pericles ($7.50) is also thereabouts in betting, having produced one win and two placings from three career starts. Muramasa ($16) draws a low barrier and has only raced three times in his early career for a win and a narrow second placing.
The rest of the lineup don't jump off the page, but there are plenty of quality three-year-olds who could run a decent race and cause an upset.
But for us, we're going with Sharp N Smart for the win and a place bet on Foujita San for this year's Victoria Derby.
FINAL TIP: Sharp N Smart ($3.50 win with TAB) / Foujita San ($5.00 place with TAB)
RYAN PHELAN'S EXPERT TIP: Mr Maestro ($7.00 with TAB) / Foujita San ($23/$5 with TAB)
How to watch Victoria Derby 2022
This year's Victoria Derby will be broadcast live on Sky Racing and Channel 10.
Victoria Derby 2022 tickets
To purchase tickets to this year's Victoria Derby raceday, click here.
