Linsday Park’s Personal will try to emulate the feat of former stablemate Qafila in 2019 and beat the boys in Saturday’s $502,250 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Victoria Oaks winner produced a slashing run in last weekend’s Australasians Oaks behind Media Award and – like Qafila – will be on the quick back-up in the Group 1 feature for three-year-olds.
Qafila came from the back of the field to finish fourth behind Princess Jenni in the Oaks before she jumped from a favourable gate to defeat Savvy Oak and Mr Quickie in the Derby.
Personal’s Oaks effort to finish second behind Media Award hasn’t gone unnoticed by punters, with the filly the best backed in the race with tab.com.au.
After opening $6 and drifting to $7, Personal has been backed into a $5 second favourite alongside Liqueuro with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Explosive Jack a firm $3 favourite.
Leading South Australian fancy Royal Mile, who has won the Port Adelaide Guineas and Chairman’s Stakes and will be the first Group 1 ride for apprentice Jacob Opperman, has had support backed from $13 into $10 before drifting to $11, while Let’s Karaka Deel, ($11 out to $14) and Nobel Heights ($13 to $18) are both easy.
Damien Oliver stays with Personal, who is faced with the extreme outside gate drawn in barrier 16.
The champion jockey is no stranger to SA Derby success having won the 2011 feature aboard Zabeelionaire for Leon Corstens, while John Allen will chase a fourth Derby win in six years aboard the favourite Explosive Jack.
Damien Lane won the 2018 Derby on Leicester and partners with Deepstrike for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. Deepstrike remains solid in market at $7.50.
Local hoop Jason Holder finished runner-up aboard Dalasan last year and will chase his second SA Derby – after winning with Markham back in 1997 – riding Abreed for Andrew Noblet.
