The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with a bang at Flemington on 2023 Victoria Derby Day!
Nine of the season’s best races are headlined by three Group 1 feature races, as some of the country’s biggest stars step out.
I’ve run the rule over every race, and you can find my complete 2023 Victoria Derby Day Tips below.
Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) – 12:20pm AEDT
Brave Mead was far too good for them in the first on Caulfield Cup Day, and I’m expecting him to be far too good for them in the first on Derby Day.
The Brave Smash colt is yet to turn in a poor performance in seven career starts, and he has improved noticeably with each of his three back this time.
He’s hard fit this week, and assuming he gets the mile, I thought that the Carbine Club Stakes looked the perfect bit of black type for him.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Brave Mead
Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) – 1pm AEDT
Ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup field goes on the line in the Lexus Archer Stakes, and I think that it will be claimed by Kiwi raider Ladies Man.
Ladies Man has been a standout in the New Zealand staying ranks throughout his career, winning seven of twenty-two starts and placing a further ten times.
He has improved with each of four starts back this time, culminating in an eye-catching win in Group 1 company in October, and I think that he’ll relish getting out to the 2500m this week on the big Flemington track.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Ladies Man
Group 3 Furphy Sprint (1100m) – 1:40pm AEDT
Dancing Alone faces another rise in class on Derby Day, but she has been excellent this time in, and this does look the next logical step for her to take.
The I Am Invincible mare suffered her first defeat at Randwick back in September, but returned to winning form here at Flemington two back, before giving them a galloping lesson on Neds Coongy Cup Day.
She’s hard fit this week, she gets into the race well under quality hoop Billy Egan, and I think she’ll be right in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 10 Dancing Alone
Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) – 2:20pm AEDT
I thought her first run back on Neds Caulfield Guineas Day was full of merit, and I’m quite keen on the second-up Chain Of Lightning in the Rising Fast Stakes.
Chain Of Lightning has been a great horse for the Moody and Coleman yard throughout the last twelve months, picking off some nice races and finding form around some of the better horses in Australia.
She clearly needed that run in the Schillaci Stakes, but given it was behind Asfoora and Uncommon James, I’m expecting the form to hold up, and Chain Of Lightning is a multiple winner at this point of her prep.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Chain Of Lightning
Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) – 3pm AEDT
The Wakeful Stakes has produced the VRC Oaks winner a couple of times in recent years – will that be the case again in 2023?
At any rate, I’ve been very impressive with Konasana since she debuted, and I think that she can win this race.
Konasana finished a head second in the Oaks Trial here second-up in September, before returning to winning form over a mile at The Valley.
She was last seen finishing fourth behind the likes of Autumn Angel and Tropical Squall in the Ethereal Stakes, and that run has reportedly brought her right on.
Jamie Kah rides from an ideal barrier and I really can’t find a reason why the horse won’t be in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Konasana
Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) – 3:40pm AEDT
Some quality three-year-old sprinters will contest this year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes; the first of three Group 1 features on Derby Day.
I’ve put Cylinder on top, but I am having a few bets in this race, all of which you can find in my 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Cylinder
Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) – 4:20pm AEDT
$2 million goes on the line in the 2023 Victoria Derby this weekend.
Riff Rocket looks to be a clear standout top pick in my opinion, but you can find my full race preview and complete 2023 Victoria Derby Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Riff Rocket
Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) – 5pm AEDT
This is a typically open edition of the Empire Rose Stakes and there is a case to be made for several mares engaged.
I am a big fan of Hope In Your Heart and believe that it is the perfect Group 1 target for her, but check out all of my thoughts and 2023 Empire Rose Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Hope In Your Heart
Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) – 5:40pm AEDT
The Damien Oliver is a strong race to conclude Derby Day and a tough one from a betting perspective, but I’m pretty keen on Vilana second-up from a spell.
Vilana returned to the races with a smart effort for fifth behind I Am Me in the Sydney Stakes three weeks ago, and he is a multiple winner at this point of his preparation.
Under the race’s namesake, I think that Vilana can send us home a winner.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Vilana
