Australia: Gunstock has a lot going for him in Victorian Derby

Everything except the post position seems favorable for Gunstock in Saturday’s Group 1 Victorian Derby at Flemington in Melbourne, Australia.

The rapidly improving Gunstock beat maidens in his second start in September and won his group stakes debut in the Group 3 Neds Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 16. The $1.5 million Victorian Derby at 1 1/4 miles will be Gunstock’s fifth start.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent, Jr., Gunstock tends to run from off the pace, which may help his chances from post 15 in a maximum field of 16. Jye McNeil has ridden Gunstock in his last two starts and has the mount in the Victorian Derby. McNeil is expected to use the first half-mile to gain position.

Forgot You, the winner of the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase at about 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley on Oct. 23, and Hitotsu, fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas at a mile on Oct. 9, are rated as two other leading runners.

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The Victorian Derby is one of four Group 1 races on a powerful Flemington program that begins at 9:20 p.m. Eastern, or 6:20 p.m. Pacific on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The red-hot Mr Brightside, the winner of six consecutive starts in his eight-race career, will be a solid favorite in a field of 16 in the Group 1 Cantala Handicap at a mile. Mr Brightside will be ridden by Craig Williams at minimum weight of 114 pounds, far below topweight Zoutari at 127.8 pounds. Zoutari is winless in his last five starts since a narrow victory in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at a mile last March.

The 5-year-old mare Testa Rossa was a recent stakes winner at 6 1/2 furlongs and is a threat from off the pace in the $1.5 million Cantala Handicap.

In other stakes, In the Congo, the winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 25, and Extreme Warrior, who won the Group 2 Blue Sapphire Stakes at six furlongs at Caulfield on Oct. 13, were the 3-1 co-favorites on Wednesday for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. The $1.12 million is run at six furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds.

Tofane, the winner of two Group 1 races in June, is a standout in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. Tofane was second to the star 4-year-old colt I’m Thunderstruck in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 9.

Tofane is one of five fillies and mares in the $752,700 Empire Rose that would earn a $752,700 bonus with a win, having won group-level stakes for fillies and mares in Australia earlier this year. Colette, Flying Mascot, Sirileo Miss and Still a Star can collect the hefty bonus. Colette has won four group stakes in her 19-race career.

Earlier on the Flemington program, the 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding Great House will be favored to win the Group 3 Hotham Stakes at 1 9/16 miles, the last race offering an automatic berth to Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Great House was fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on Oct. 16. His main rival in a field of nine in the $228,810 Hotham Stakes is Mankayan, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding who has been second in his last two starts.

Rosehill Gardens

While Flemington has an outstanding program, Australia’s richest race on Saturday is the $5.64 million Golden Eagle Stakes for 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens near Sydney. Only the $11.05 million Everest Stakes for sprinters, run earlier this month, and $5.83 million Melbourne Cup are worth more in Australia.

I’m Thunderstruck, a winner of 5 of 8 starts, won his first Group 1 in the Toorak Handicap. Trained by Price and Kent, I’m Thunderstruck was the 3-1 favorite in a maximum field of 18 on Wednesday for the Golden Eagle. I’m Thunderstruck is a threat from off the pace under top jockey Hugh Bowman.

Private Eye, winner of the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at a mile against older horses at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Oct. 2, is another closer with an outstanding chance.