A very even edition of the Derby. Always an interesting race and good it’s a full field.
Can’t knock anything EL CASTELLO has done. Four wins on the bounce and was excellent last week. Good jock on top, has the ability to sit in the first few pairs if they wish to roll forward and always good late in races. He brings a very different formline to the locals.
The main lead up races have been The Vase last week at the Valley 2040m and Sportsbet Classic at Caulfield 2000m. In both lead ups, it was a three-way blanket finish (which isn’t usually a great sign). I really liked the run of KING OF THUNDER in the Vase. They went very slow and those up front were favoured. He was a little wide but just kept to the task in the straight and looks to me like Flemington and 2500m would be perfect. Jmac stays on top. RED ACES was the fav and the winner there. Draws the perfect gate to get a soft run and has to be a winning hope again. POLITELY DUN was a long way off the speed and no hope last week. Can sit closer and can improve here.
KINGOFWALLSTREET, KEENLAND and CHINA SEA went over the line locked at Caulfield and find it hard to split them all again in this.
GOLDRUSH GURU is a genuine winning hope. Has just kept getting better getting out in trip and was a it of an arrogant win in easier grade last start. This is harder but reckon there is real upside.
Can’t remember too many Derby’s with so many winning hopes.
Gibbo’s 2024 Derby Selections:
8-KING OF THUNDER $7.50
2-RED ACES $7
4-GOLDRUSH GURU $13
1-EL CASTELLO $3.60
6-KINGOFWALLSTREET $19
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