Champion trainer Chris Waller is not buying into the debate whether the Victoria Derby distance should be shortened.
Waller has prepared three previous winners of the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington which will be run on Saturday in which he saddles Providence and Savisanta.
The annual call to shorten the Derby from 2500m to 2000m was made prior to the Breakfast With The Stars at Flemington on Tuesday morning with Gai Waterhouse vehemently opposed to any such move.
Waller prepared Preferment (2014), Manzoice (2022) and Riff Rocket (2023) to win the Classic over 2500m and like Preferment is aiming to win the race again with a pair of maiden performers.
Providence is related to Preferment, being out of Southbank, placed in a Thousand Guineas at Caulfield, who was out of Rezoned, a sister to Preferment.
Preferment had finished second in the Geelong Classic (2200m) in his final start before the Derby while Providence is coming off a closing second in the Vase (2040m) at The Valley last Saturday.
“Providence is by Wootton Basset that is a great international stallion that leaves winners over all distances, so that gives us a bit of confidence that he’ll get 2500 metres,” Waller said.
“He certainly hit the line strongly last Saturday, so he’s a great chance.
“We thought he might have been a bit sharper earlier in the prep and subsequently it’s a bit of a rush now and we’re backing him up in only seven days, but it’s worked before, we’ve won a Derby off a seven-day turnaround.
“He’s come through the race really well. He’s a colt, so he’s got some natural strength and hormones. He’s got a great nature, he relaxes well, so he’ll give himself every chance.”
Being from the same family, Waller was asked if there were any similarities between Preferment and Preferment.
“They’re both big, athletic horses. They both have the physique of a Derby type of horse,” he said.
“With Preferment he was finishing his races off well and there was a sense of timing about his Derby win and Providence is the same.”
Waller said there was also a link between his other runner Savisanta and Preferment.
Savisanta finished third in the Geelong Classic last week having finished second in his three previous starts in maiden grade on Victoria provincial tracks.
“He’s coming off a similar preparation to what Preferment had,” Waller said.
“He’s by Savabeel, Preferment was by Zabeel, so there’s some relationship there.
“The Derby is a unique race. They have to be fit and well prepared, and stamina is the key.”
