Trainer Chris Waller is tipped to take home his third Queensland Derby trophy on Saturday when his gun young star Kovalica jumps odds-on on the quick back-up in the Group 1 staying showdown at Eagle Farm.

Kovalica is favourite to take out the 2023 Queensland Derby after his brave third to Huetor (pictured) in last weekend’s Doomben Cup. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival action continues to build on the weekend with a double-shot of elite level racing including the three-year-olds facing off in the Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m).

Donning the number one saddlecloth and installed at a short quote of $1.70 in the latest Queensland Derby odds online at race sponsor [ladbrokes] is Waller’s in-form Ocean Park gelding Kovalica.

Two back he won the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) by a neck at the track before taking on the older horses at WFA last Saturday to run a brave third only 1.2 lengths behind Huetor in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m).

He is rock-hard fit and ready to fire with just seven days between runs back against his own age here but up in distance.

Top hoop James McDonald comes aboard for the prized ride in the Derby and will partner the hot top elect from a favourable barrier five draw.

Waller has prepared two past Queensland Derby winners with Hawkspur (2013) followed by the McDonald-ridden Kukeracha (2021).

Along with Kovalica this year he also saddles-up another in-form runner in Special Swey who is drawn wide out chasing his third win on the bounce.

The Sweynesse gelding transferred from across the Tasman last start and won his first start for Waller with a 1.5 length upset at 30/1 in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 13.

He has been kept fresh since and won’t be found at those odds in Queensland Derby betting currently paying $9.50 to defeat his better fancied stablemate.

Despite a capacity Queensland Derby field just one other runner is currently at single-figures for the win with the rails-drawn Promises Kept ($7) for the Maher/Eustace stable.

Mark Zahra partners the consistent Cluster gelding from the inside alley with Promises Kept having just his second start for his current trainers.

A 3.25 length winner under Greg Eurell two back in the Bendigo St. Leger Trial the up-and-comer was excellent last start when runner-up behind Dunkel in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m).

At 2400m he looks at his right distance with that Group 1 Derby run on his CV and winning form up to 2200m.

The Vowels at $12 is the best fancied of the Queenslanders in the mix representing Toby & Trent Edmonds and looks a genuine chance at the upset.

The Better Than Ready gelding is wide (14) but has time to overcome the alley and go one better than his second in the Rough Habit last time out.

This is his first go at the distance and, while he is yet to win over further than a mile, he looks ready to fire having made up lots of late ground two back when third to Saturday’s hot favourite in the Queensland Guineas.

Another Derby hopeful racing well of late being kept safe in the markets at a $14 quote is the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained son of So You Think Aberfeldie Boy.

He was third under two lengths off Manzoice in Melbourne’s Group 1 VRC Derby (2400m) at blowout odds during the spring and was good again when third in the SA Derby from a wide alley on May 13.

Proven at this level now he is draw ideally in gate eight with Craig Newitt riding and looks a genuine top three chance again.

The 2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby is set to run as Race 7 at Eagle Farm’s nine-race Saturday card with a scheduled start time of 3:17pm (AEST).

2023 Queensland Derby Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.