Ciaron Maher’s quest for a second straight Victoria Derby win ramps up this weekend with the two colts the stable considers its top seeds for the 2500-metre Group 1 to run at Caulfield.
Vallice and Skua will have their final lead-up runs ahead of the $3 million event on October 31 in the $240,000 Group 3 Sportsbet Classic (2000m), which kicks off the Caulfield Cup Day card.
Maher won last year’s Derby with Observer and his national assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the Derby has long been front-of-mind for Vallice and Skua.
“We’ve got other horses on the fringe, but in terms of winning the race, you couldn’t go past Vallice or Skua of our team,” Turnbull said.
“Skua is a genuine staying horse, he probably wants to be ridden on-speed because he’ll lengthen, whereas Vallice is more dynamic and has a good turn of foot.”
Vallice showcased that last start in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington, when he was the best of the colts and geldings, albeit 2-1/2 lengths astern dominant winner Miss Waititi.
That was the fourth run of the campaign, and first time in the placings this time in, for the colt by Maurice, the stallion who sired Maher’s first Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu, out a German mare by Guiliani.
“We were trying to ride him a bit closer that day, but how circumstances unfolded he got back and it actually was perfect like a Derby trial up in trip,” Turnbull said.
Vallice finished four positions and almost 2-1/2 lengths clear of Skua in the Super Impose Stakes, but Turnbull was forgiving of that son of Ghaiyyath – the sire of Observer – after travelling wide throughout.
“He had a bit of a tricky run last start, he was wide and got out of position, but his work late was good on possibly an unfavourable track,” Turnbull said.
“He’s shifted down to Cranbourne since, we’ve given him a few good bits of work and I think the change of environment is going to help have him spot on.
“The further he goes up in the distance the better I think he will go.”
Maher’s pair drew the two outside gates in the nine-horse Caulfield Classic with Ethan Brown charged with overcoming the widest gate aboard Skua at what will be his first ride on the colt, while Mark Zahra retains the ride aboard Vallice.
