The Team Hawkes trained Swear is the big shortener in the betting in the lead up to the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington today.
Swear has firmed in from $12 to be on the second line of betting at $7 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind the clear cut $3 favourite Sacred Elixir with the well fancied So Si Bon remaining solid at the odds of $7.50
Hugh Bowman, above, rides So Si Bon in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Last week’s Cox Plate winning jockey Hugh Bowman has won the Victoria Derby on three previous occasions and will be on So Si Bon looking for his second win in the ‘Blue Riband’ for Laing after he saluted on Polanski in 2013.
Bowman’s other Victoria Derby wins were on Lion Tamer for Kiwi trainer Murray Baker in 2010 and Sangster the following year for another New Zealander, Trent Busuttin.
Bowman got a feel of So Si Bon at trackwork on Thursday morning and will be having his first race ride on the So You Think colt on Saturday, replacing apprentice Michael Dee who has been aboard him for his three Spring Carnival outings, including a fifth to Divine Prophet in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8 followed by a last start third to the favourite Sacred Elixir in the Group 2 $200,000 LUCRF Super Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22.
“I think So Si Bon put the writing on the wall in the Caulfield Guineas,” Bowman told the Herald Sun.
“I thought his run was exceptional the other day (third in the Moonee Valley Vase) so I think he is a genuine winning chance.
“With Polanksi I had a better understanding of him because I had ridden him. This horse isn’t as strong as Polankski was.
“He has certainly shown he has plenty of class and I was very pleased with the way he felt this morning (Thursday).”
Retired champion jockey Jimmy ‘The Pumper’ Cassidy is giving So Si Bon a great chance of winning the Victoria Derby, tipping him on The Ladbrokes Mounting Yard, Derby Day Edition alongside of Ladbrokes Ambassador Peter Moody and Roger Oldridge, Ladbrokes Head Of Media.
“I think So Si Bon getting back to Flemington, big track, Bowman back on, change of rider. Can Robbie win his second Derby? I think he can. I think he is going to blow the favourite out,” Cassidy said on The Mounting Yard.
Market order for the Victoria Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Sacred Elixir, $7 Swear, $7.50 So Si Bon, $15 Inference, $16 Beach Life, $17 Rocketeer, $18 Prized Icon, , Morvada, $19 Captain Duffy, $21 Tumultuous, $26 Wine Bush, Highlad, $34 Kent, Hollywood Mo, $41 Silvera, $61 Anaheim, $81 All Out Of Love, $101 Zoffman, $126 Peter John, Shine Tak Star.
