News

'Super Saturday' will be just that

27th Oct 2010

The Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Thursday, 28 October 2010

GUY Walter has had to wait more than a decade for the chance to avenge former champion Tie The Knot's luckless defeat in the Victoria Derby. He gets the chance with Digital Fortress in the $1.5 million classic at Flemington on Saturday.

It's a welcome return to racing's biggest stage for Walter, who conceded his stable has endured a "lull period" in the past five years.

"Like every trainer you love to have a horse here at Flemington for Cup week, and particularly in a Group One like the Victoria Derby, a time-honoured race," Walter said.

"It would be tremendous for everyone concerned if Digital Fortress won, particularly my brother, Jamie.

"He purchased the horse for $100,000 at the Inglis Easter Sales for his Proven Thoroughbreds Syndications and this is his first Group One runner."

Digital Fortress is poised to win the race that eluded Tie The Knot, who was inconvenienced by a track that favoured frontrunners when he chased home Second Coming in the 1997 classic. The nine-race Derby Day program on Saturday has four Group One events and many highlights, including:

• THE Victoria Derby has attracted a capacity field of 16, plus four emergencies. The favourites, Rekindled Interest (barrier eight) and Retrieve (two), both drew ideal gates;

• THERE are 20 Melbourne Cup entries lining up on Derby Day;

• LEXUS Stakes runners Alcopop, Herculian Prince, Mourayan, Red Ruler, Linton, Moudre, Count Encosta, Cedarberg, Maluckyday, Stanstill and Gothic Crown all need to win to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. Jessicabeel and Once Were Wild are already safely in the Cup field;

• IN THE Mackinnon Stakes, Shocking, Metal Bender, C'est La Guerre, So You Think, Descarado, Shoot Out and Faint Perfume are all fully qualified for the Melbourne Cup;

• TYPHOON Tracy is strong favourite to beat Hot Danish and claim her second successive Myer Classic; and

• STAR Witness is at the top of betting for the Coolmore Stud Stakes after a brilliant trial against Hay List on Tuesday.

The likelihood of a wet track hardly concerns Walter, who pointed out Digital Fortress's two wins have been on rain-affected tracks in Sydney.

"The rain will help his cause because he has won on heavy ground in Sydney. The rain would be in his favour," Walter said.

"His third in the Norman Robinson Stakes [behind Retrieve and Almindoro] was a very good run and he has the pedigree to stay. To run the journey at this time of year, you need a lot of strength and he has that.

"He is bred to stay and has always been a very tough horse. He gave us the impression from very early on that he could stand up to the rigours of a Derby preparation - and he has."

Walter hopes Digital Fortress can finally provide him with an elusive Derby triumph.

Tie The Knot ran second in both the Victoria Derby and AJC Australian Derby in the 1997-98 season while Braeloch was a 200/1 outsider when run down by Starcraft in the 2004 AJC Australian Derby.

Digital Fortress is on the third line of Victoria Derby betting at $8.50, behind Rekindled Interest ($3.40) and Retrieve ($3.80).

The 2500m start for the Derby is difficult, with a short run to the first turn. Horses drawn inside are favoured and it was no surprise there was good money for the Peter Snowden-trained Retrieve after he drew barrier two.

Steve Richards, trainer of Almindoro, is hoping the omens are right after he drew barrier five for his three-year-old.

"I was speaking to [jockey] Steven King last night and asked what barrier he would like and he said five, so that's a good start," Richards said.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse is running her three Melbourne Cup runners on Saturday, with Herculian Prince and Once Were Wild clashing in the Lexus Stakes and Caulfield Cup winner Descarado taking on So You Think and Shocking in the Mackinnon Stakes.