Trainer Gerald Ryan is confident that Bachman is in peak condition ahead of the 2014 Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Gerald Ryan could not be happier with Bachman heading into the 2014 Victoria Derby at Flemington this Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) has always been the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Bachman and he has performed fairly without winning in his four race starts heading into the Group 1 event.
Bachman returned to the races in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 13 and he hit the line fairly to finish 12th before he made up good ground late when fourth in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 27.
The All American colt one again worked home strongly when he was third behind Hampton Court in the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and he produced another good Victoria Derby trial when he was sixth behind Fontein Ruby in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on October 18.
Ryan told TVN that Bachman ran better than his bare form suggested in the Caulfield Classic and he revealed that he is delighted with the condition of the three-year-old heading into the Victoria Derby this weekend.
“I was really pleased with his run last time when he made up a lot of ground,” Ryan said.
“This (the 2500 metres of the Derby) is what he has been looking for all along and I couldn’t be happier with him heading into the race
“I’d be surprised if he wasn’t at least competitive.”
Bachman has not recorded a race win since he recorded an impressive two and a half lengths win over Scratch Me Lucky and Veuvelicious in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper Day earlier this year, but he is still considered one of the leading chances to take out the feature race at Flemington this weekend and is available at 2014 Victoria Derby odds of $13.
Spring Champion Stakes winner Hampton Court ($2.80) is a clear favourite in the 2014 Victoria Derby betting market with Ladbrokes from Chris Waller-trained maiden Preferment ($6), Moonee Valley Vase winner Moonovermanhattan ($7), Trent Busuttin-trained Atmosphere ($9) and progressive galloper Bondeiger ($11).
Ryan will be having his first runner in the Victoria Derby since Runaway finished fifth behind Arena in the 1998 edition of the race.
