Years of experience learning from the master Bart Cummings is set to reap rewards for Victorian trainer Leon Corstens in the Group One Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.
Corstens is confident he has South Australian Derby (2500m) winner Zabeelionaire at his peak for Saturday’s 2400-metre feature.
Corstens, who worked as foreman for Cummings for many years before branching out on his own, had an extra spring in his step after Zabeelionaire worked impressively on the course proper at Eagle Farm this week.
“I’ve been working him right-handed and the other direction shouldn’t pose a problem,” Corstens said.
“He gets on his right leg straight away though race pressure can be different.”
The Queensland Derby was an afterthought for Corstens who had planned to spell the son of Zabeel to prepare for the Melbourne spring following his South Australian Derby triumph on May 5.
“The road trip back to Melbourne flattened him a little and I was going to spell him,” Corstens said.
“That was until Damien Oliver rang and said Group Ones are hard to win these days so it was worth taking him to Queensland.
“I’ve been around one of the best trainers in the world for a long time and I think I know how to get him right.”
Corstens is keeping a close watch on Brisbane’s weather and doesn’t want any rain.
“If it ends up becoming a heavy track it’ll be a worry for him,” Corstens said.
“I’ll pull him out if that happens.”
Zabeelionaire is on the third line of betting with TAB Sportsbet at $5.50 behind the $3.20 favourite Brambles and Vatuvei at $5, who are both trained by Peter Moody.
Moody believes he has all bases covered in his bid to claim his second Queensland Derby.
He won the race with Riva San in 2008.
Moody rates Brambles his better Queensland Derby chance if the track continues to dry out but should rain intervene, Vatuvei is his preference.
“Vatuvei is the one to beat if we get a wet track but Brambles is the one if its dry,” Moody said.
“Brambles has a good draw and will race more forward than Vatuvei.”
Brambles has won his past two starts in Brisbane, in last month’s Group Three Rough Habit Plate and Group Three Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben while Vatuvei was a fast-finishing second in the Grand Prix.
Trainer Peter Snowden believes Tunes, a $61 chance with TAB Sportsbet, could prove a value runner for punters.
Tunes, a son of Viscount, won over 2400 metres at Warwick Farm on May 9 then 10 days later was narrowly beaten after bungling the start when runner-up to Sour Mash over 2200 metres at Scone.
“I looked at the Derby about a month ago and there didn’t look to be a standout,” Snowden said.
“He can stick on if it proves to be a slugfest.”
