Observer’s hold on favouritism for next week’s Victoria Derby became vice-like a week out from the Flemington Classic after the classy colt dominated his rivals in Saturday’s $400,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase.
A $3.50 favourite for the 2500-metre Group 1 Derby before the Vase, Observer is now odds-on with some operators after an arrogant win under Mark Zahra in the 2040m Vase.
Observer had the race won by the 150m, when four lengths clear, but was eased down late by Zahra and the half-length winning margin over Providence didn’t do the ease of the win justice.
Trainer Ciaron Maher was not complaining, though, and while he would not have been out of place in the Cox Plate on Saturday’s performance, Maher was happy to see him get back into the winner’s list after a luckless third placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
“It was a bit of a line ball, (but) he’s a raw colt and he’s learning with each start. It is the right call today,” Maher said when asked if he regretted not running in the Cox Plate.
“The Derby was always the plan but he can be quite free so we brought him here today, and the back-up going to the 2500 was the best option for him.
“He put the writing on the wall last time he ran in the Guineas. You’d think he’d only get better, given his breeding as he stretches out.”
Observer, the $1.75 favourite, defeated Providence ($7) with another Sydney visitor O’Sheamus ($10) a further length back.
The victory capped a stellar 20-minute period for Godolphin, who earlier saw Attica land Group 1 success in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
He is also now prominent in Derby betting, but no decision has been made on whether the Joe Pride-trained colt will head south.
The Vase win was just the second career success for Observer, a son of Ghaiyyath, and Zahra took luck out of the equation by leading on Observer and he was impressed with the feeling he got.
“He was having a good look around and quickened up for 400 and the race was over,” Zahra said.
“I was getting a bit up him in the end but thinking about next week I thought ‘that’ll do, you’d better ease up’.
“So onwards and upwards towards next week.”
Stewards took a dim view of Zahra’s tactics late aboard Observer and the star jockey was handed a $1500 fine for failing to ride him out to the line.
