2026 Victoria Derby Day Preview

Chris Waller holds a strong hand in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington, but UNHINGED (2) chases a hat-trick and looks particularly well placed.

Having found form around some quality horses this campaign, he should relish racing over a mile on the big Flemington track, and the booking of James McDonald further enhances his claims.

REGAL AMBITION (7) can bounce back in The Vanity.

The Palace Pier filly hasn’t turned in a poor performance since debuting, and after returning to action to break her maiden at Sandown, she franked the performance by getting up again in Listed company.

Having since finished third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, she drops substantially in class back into this contest, while the return to 1400m should also prove beneficial.

DE ARMAS (8) gets out to the right trip in Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes.

While she is yet to contest a race beyond 1600m, she was strong through the line to only just miss in the Group 1 Flight Stakes over a mile in Sydney before finishing on the placegetters’ heels in the Thousand Guineas last time out.

That run looked to be one of a horse crying out for further, and given that she is by Ardrossan, 2000m and further looks perfect.

In peak condition, she can stamp herself as a leading contender for next week’s Oaks.

KING ZEPHYR (9) is second up and open to plenty of improvement in the Rising Fast Stakes.

The Hallowed Crown gelding was fair without winning throughout a busy autumn and winter prep earlier this year, while he returned to action to finish on the placegetters’ heels, beaten only two and a half lengths in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes over this route earlier this month.

He’s been kept up to the mark with a trial, gets a rider chance with Ladbrokes Cox Plate winner William Pike climbing aboard, and he rates as one of the better each way prospects of the day, in my opinion ($10 at publish).

PERICLES (3) is the one for me in a stacked edition of The Damien Oliver.

Pericles is yet to place in two runs back from a break, but after finishing midfield in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes first up, he was only two lengths behind Grafterburners in the Sydney Stakes at Randwick on The Everest Day.

With further improvement, he gets out to a more suitable trip this week and should get his chance here at Flemington.

Drawn well on the inside of this field, he’s another whom we can have something on each way.

This is an outstanding edition of the Coolmore Stud Stakes with several exciting three-year-old sprinters engaged.

SATONO GLOW (4) has always boasted above-average ability, but after returning to action for an eye-catching victory in the Cap D’Antibes here at Flemington in September, she went back up to Sydney to beat a highly fancied Paradoxium in the Roman Consul.

Back to the straight and in peak condition, the Coolmore Stud Stakes represents a perfect Group 1 target for her.

I’m keen to stick with TRUE REBEL (16) when he backs up in the Victoria Derby.

He’s only made four appearances at the races since debuting, but True Rebel has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence and ran on impressively to win the Moonee Valley Vase here at Flemington last weekend.

On the quick back up and out to a staying trip, he can deliver the Danny O’Brien yard another Group 1 crown.

There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the Empire Rose Stakes field and with Pride Of Jenni a notable absentee, I think it sets up well for a horse like CONCORD CONNIE (6).

Concord Connie stormed onto the scene in late autumn via a couple of dominant victories in metro company.

While yet to strike in two runs back this time, there’s no doubt that she’s stripped fitter for both performances and gets out to the mile in peak condition this week.

She takes a little weight from several key rivals, is unbeaten at Flemington and has drawn to find a nice prominent position in the run under Craig Williams.

I’m happy to give BRIDAL WALTZ (3) another chance when she takes her place in the last on Derby Day.

Bridal Waltz has been a strong and consistent performer for the Moody & Coleman yard since debuting and has placed in each of three runs back this time, all black type sprints at Caulfield.

She’s missed placing only twice in six previous goes at Flemington, winning twice, and in peak order this week she looks well placed in something like this.