Godolphin trainer John O'Shea believes the winner of the Victoria Derby at Flemington will first run at Moonee Valley on Saturday. He will saddle last-start winner Gouldian in the Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase, which includes Bondeiger, Duccio and Atmosphere. "I think the Derby winner is in this race," O'Shea said. "My bloke got around the Valley on Tuesday morning very well. He just wants to stay and I think he will be there at the end on Saturday. We had to ride him outside his comfort zone last time and he was still able to win and he has improved since." Gouldian sat three-wide when wining his maiden at Warwick Farm and the 2040 metres of the Moonee Valley race will suit him. He is $15 in the Derby market that is headed by Spring Champion winner Hampton Court at $2.80, ahead of Wednesday's Geelong Classic runner-up Preferment at $4.80. Nozomi, which sports the Godolphin blue but is trained by Anthony Freedman, held Preferment in a tight finish and remains a $13 chance with Ladbrokes.
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Bigger field for Rebel Dane pleases Gary Portelli
Gary Portelli is delighted by the bigger field in Friday's Manikato Stakes, which his Rebel Dane will contest. The five-year-old ran third in the blanket finish in the Moir Stakes last month, tipped out by Buffering and Lankan Rupee. "We knew our fate after they went 200m when they sat up that night," Portelli said. "He ran the best sectionals of the night but you just can't come over the top of them in a slowly run race. I couldn't have been happy with the draw [of gate three] on Friday. I think there is going to be more speed in the bigger field and we will be able to be closer to them and we know what he can do at the end of his races." Portelli is relieved Rebel Dane has had a low-profile preparation. "They are all talking about Terravista and the two horses he nearly beat in the Moir and we are under the radar."
Craig Williams to ride Scissor Kick in Melbourne
Craig Williams will take over on Golden Rose runner-up Scissor Kick during his Melbourne campaign. The Redoute's Choice colt might not have a run down south if he does not come up to grade in a hot jump-out at Flemington on Friday. "We wanted to put a Melbourne jockey on him, especially for a straight race," trainer Paul Messara said. "He is meeting a few horses that will be there in the Coolmore [Stud Stakes] on Friday [in the Flemington jump-out] and if he doesn't measure up we will stop and wait for the autumn. He was targeted at the Golden Rose and was very unlucky there but even with a small setback he has had with his foot, he has shown us that it was worth going to Melbourne, but will not run unless he is 110 per cent."
