Sydney trainer Mark Newnham can’t see Shadow Hero having any trouble getting the 2500m of the Group 1 $2m AAMI Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday.

Shadow Hero, above, is the early favourite for the 2019 Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Shadow Hero, above, is the early favourite for the 2019 Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

“It’s new to all the horses but I don’t think he will have any trouble getting the distance,” Newnham told AAP.

“He’s fit and well and has settled in nicely.”

Shadow Hero has been installed as the $3.20 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Victoria Derby as he chases a hat trick following wins in the Group 3 $200,000 Antler Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 28 and in the Group 1 $1m Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 12.

Josh Parr has been aboard Shadow Hero for all his three 2019 Spring Carnival runs and gets the ride again in the Victoria Derby and will be looking to find some cover on the Pierro three year old in the early stages after drawing barrier ten in the final sixteen horse field.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Thought Of That is also the winner of his last two starts since the blinkers went on.

Thought Of That raced to an eight lengths win in a 1620m Donald Maiden and then came to town to lead all of the way in the Group 3 $350,000 Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) at Caulfield on October 19.

Thought Of That has drawn the rails and will be ridden by new jockey Mark Zahra who replaces Linda Meech who has been aboard the So You Think colt at his last two starts.

Thought Of That is starting to trim up in betting and is the second pick at $3.90 at Ladbrokes.com.au while the Ken Keys trained Soul Patch is on the third line of betting at $6 and regular rider Dwyane Dunn is certain to give the Shamus Award colt a sweet run from barrier two.

Kiwi colt Long Jack raced into Victoria Derby contention with his win in the Listed $140,000 Roderick Insurance Brokers Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on October 23 but will have to overcome the outside gate with Craig Williams in the saddle.

Betting for the 2019 Victoria Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Shadow Hero, $3.90 Thought Of That, $6 Soul Patch, $9 Warning, $13 Southern Moon, $16 Relucent, $17 Long Jack, $26 Serious Liaison, Huntly Castle, $31 Independent Road, $34 Translator, $61 He Is,  $71 Craftsmanship, $101 Sign Seal Deliver, $126 Navarre, $201 Lucky Edward.

Final field for 2019 Victoria Derby (2500m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 214×311 SHADOW HERO Mark Newnham Joshua Parr 10 55.5kg 107
2 1×2181 SOUL PATCH Ken Keys Dwayne Dunn 2 55.5kg 90
3 653×2511 THOUGHT OF THAT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 1 55.5kg 81
4 74×3412 WARNING Anthony Freedman Damien Oliver 11 55.5kg 77
5 51413 SERIOUS LIAISON Danny O’Brien Brett Prebble 7 55.5kg 72
6 6711×735 HUNTLY CASTLE David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Jye McNeil 13 55.5kg 69
7 21×9824 INDEPENDENT ROAD David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Luke Nolen 6 55.5kg 70
8 22×1661 LONG JACK Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Craig Williams 16 55.5kg 75
9 8×1515 CRAFTMANSHIP (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Jamie Kah 12 55.5kg –
10 0x3212 SOUTHERN MOON Mitchell Freedman – 8 55.5kg 68
11 432323 RELUCENT (NZ) Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 4 55.5kg 63
12 48×1557 HE IS Mark Kavanagh Dean Yendall 15 55.5kg 61
13 77×4824 TRANSLATOR Nigel Blackiston Jordan Childs 3 55.5kg 60
14 256×74528 NAVARRE Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young – 9 55.5kg 55
15 235 SIGN SEAL DELIVER Matt Cumani John Allen 14 55.5kg 60
16 6840 LUCKY EDWARD Tony Vasil Jack Hill 5 55.5kg 58

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.