The ultimate aim is capturing a big feature race - a group 1.

Barby gets an opportunity to do just that with Quake Proof in the $75,000 Victoria Trotters' Derby final, 2690m, on Redwood Day at Maryborough on Sunday.

It is a tall ask against the likes of champion filly Pink Galahs and the impressive Elite Stride.

While Quake Proof is an outstider, you have to be in it to win and this is exactly where Barby stands,

Barby and his wife Anne-Maree Conroy only began their racing journey with Quake Proof in September.

The son of Quake Proof began his career as a two-year-old with Anton Golino at Cardigan, for two minor placings in six starts.

Barby and Conroy took on Quake Proof under lease and gave him his first race start in a year in Ballarat.

A week later the gelding won for the first time and while he is still searching for his next one Quake Proof has been thereabouts in each of his starts - including a sixth in a debry heat at Maryborough to qualify for the classic final.

The derby is part of a 12-race day meeting, which also features the group 1 $50,000 Redwood Classic for two-year-olds.

Cardigan trainer Emma Stewart has one of the leading chances in the Redwood with Utopia, which has won two of four starts and took out his first start by 82.5m at Shepparton.