Damien Thornton has already captured one of the three-year-old classics of the Melbourne Spring Carnival and will be searching for another at Flemington.
Victory in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas aboard the Hawkes Racing-trained Yearning came the way of Thornton at Caulfield on October 13 while on Saturday he partners the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Cerberus in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
Thornton gave Yearning a peach of a ride to claim the Thousand Guineas, but he will need to take that to a higher level if he is to win aboard Cerberus.
The barrier gods have not been kind on Saturday with Cerberus drawing barrier 20 but will come into gate 16 which is the safety limit for the race.
Cerberus has only faced the starter on three occasions and has not raced since winning the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on October 9.
Thornton said he is expecting a strong run from the three-year-old after Cerberus posted a strong piece of work at Flemington on Tuesday.
“He looks like a really nice horse,” Thornton said.
“He hasn’t had a run since winning in Adelaide but I’m sure he’ll run well.
“He’s a progressive type and the way he feels he’s only going to get better as the distances get further and I don’t think the 2500 metres will phase him on Saturday.
“We’ll just need a bit of luck and I’m sure Anthony and Sam wouldn’t be running him for the hell of it.
“I’ll have to get a bit of cover and get him to switch off, then build up from the half-mile and hopefully find something to bring him into it.
“I quite enjoy riding in these staying races and assessing where to get the right run.”
Some punters do not think the wide draw will be a curse for Cerberus with the son of Dundeel firming from $34 to $31 with TAB on Wednesday.
Forgot You is the narrow market leader at $3.90 ahead of Gunstock at $4.
