Champion trainer Chris Waller is banking on history repeating when he chases a fourth win in the Victoria Derby at Flemington.
Waller has Stormy Marco and True Tone engaged in Saturday’s 2500m Group 1 Classic, with the pair coming through different races.
But the races they have run in to get to the Derby have been used by Waller in winning the staying contest previously.
Waller’s first Derby win came with Preferment in 2014.
Preferment was just touched out in the Geelong Classic (2200m) before registering a comfortable Derby win.
After a Warwick Farm maiden win, True Tone ran third in the Geelong Classic, getting held up late in the race.
“True Tone ran a place in the Geelong Classic, in the 2200-metre race, and that was a good test for him at his first run beyond a mile,” Waller said.
“It was a big step up, but it was a pass mark, and he’ll be ready to run 2500 metres on Saturday.
“He is in some ways similar to Preferment, although Preferment came through the Geelong Classic then won his maiden in the Victoria Derby before going on to win a number of Group 1 races afterwards.
“There’s a small similarity there.”
Stormy Marco, who is more highly favoured in betting than his stablemate, comes through the same race that Manzoice ran in before taking out the 2022 Derby.
Manzoice was beaten into eighth place in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, a week before his Derby success.
Stormy Marco finished fourth in that race last week, coming from back in the field, and Waller said the decision was made on Sunday to send him to Melbourne.
“His run was good in Sydney in the Spring Champion,” Waller said.
“They have to be very fit to run the 2500 metres in the Victoria Derby, and he has that on his side, and his breeding suggests he can get the trip.
“He’s by Wootton Basset, an international sire, that continues to make headlines in the Northern Hemisphere and down here, so from that aspect, yes he can run the trip, on the dam side, there is enough there to suggest the distance shouldn’t be a problem.”
