A restricted-class Sydney race will masquerade as a virtual Queensland Derby trial at Rosehill on Saturday.
Eleven of the 14 three-year-olds down to run in the Rexel Handicap are nominated for the $500,000 Derby at Eagle Farm on June 7.
And for the early favourite Surge Ahead, the 1900-metre race represents his only chance to head north after a wet track forced his scratching from last week’s South Australian Derby.
“It looks like he will get a decent track on Saturday and if he runs up to expectations he’ll go to Brisbane for the Derby,” trainer Anthony Cummings said.
“This is the lead-up run for him. If he needs another run there are options but he’s a fairly lightly framed horse so I would doubt it.”
Surge Ahead ran in the ATC Australian Derby last month but was beaten almost 50 lengths, confirming once and for all he was a duffer in rain-affected going.
“He’s had two goes on wet tracks and hasn’t been any good on them,” Cummings said.
Surge Ahead ($4.60) holds a slight call on favouritism over fellow Queensland Derby entries Darci Magic and ($5) and Marmelo ($5.50).
Darci Magic returns to Sydney racing after finishing just behind the placings in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm last month.
The Chris Waller-trained filly Marmelo is the most prominent of Saturday’s runners in Derby betting as a $21 chance with Surge Ahead and Takewing at $31.