By Adam Hamilton
Star Kiwi raiders Vincent and Jacks Legend are the prepost Victoria Derby favourites, but both have wide draws to overcome in their qualifying heats on Saturday night.
Mark Purdon’s Vincent, the Aussie TAB’s $1.70 prepost favourite for the final, is $1.30 to win his heat despite drawing outside the front row (gate seven) in the second heat.
Barry Purdon’s Jacks Legend – who will race in Aussie as Be Jacks Legend – is a $2 shot in the opening heat from the outside (gate seven).
Be Jacks Legend faces a serious test with the highly-rated Somewhere Secret drawn the pole, Emain Macha in gate five, SA Derby winner Our Jimmie in six and exciting WA raider Im Rockaria in gate eight.
Vincent looks a class above his rivals with Shane Tritton’s Blue Moon Rising (gate two) and Emma Stewart’s Rocknroll Icon (three_ the next best credentialled.
Former Mark Purdon-trained pacer You Gotta Have Faith, now with Nicole Molander, has drawn gate eight in Vincent’s heat.
Mark Purdon’s Derby second-stringer, Motu Meteor, gets his chance from the pole in the third heat.
His major rivals are Jilliby Kung Fu (gate two), Astride (four) and Breeders Crown 2YO winner A Little General (five).
There is also plenty of Kiwi flavour in Saturday night’s $50,000 Group 1 Dullard Cup (2240m) – the last lead-up to next week’s Group 1 Great Southern Star.
Sam Smolenski’s Sunny Ruby is a key player from gate four, Quite A Moment has barrier 11, while former Kiwi trotter Great Things Happen has gate 13.
Early favourite is NSW trotters On Thunder Road from gate two.
The race also marks the return of former champ Keystone Del (gate 10), who trialled well against the pacers at Maryborough last Sunday.
The X-factor in the race is Swedish-bred former Victorian and now WA-trained trotter Cardigan Boko.
Cardigan Boko is trained by Clive Dalton and champion WA driver Chris Lewis is making the trip across to take the reins.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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