Elusive Derby victory in sight for Aramayo

One of the few major races on the Australian calendar to elude Godolphin has been the G1 Victoria Derby.

But the classy colt Aramayo (Tye Angland) has strong prospects of putting the record straight when he runs in the first Classic of the season at Flemington on Saturday, 3 November.

A winner up to 1,600m at G3 level, Aramayo comes to the Derby a week after finishing a strong third in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase.

Trainer James Cummings is not concerned by the step-up in distance nor the quick back-up.

“I’m very excited to see Aramayo run well on Saturday,” Cummings said.

“We were third last year, there’s been a number of placegetters and it would be great to see the Godolphin colours win a Derby in Australia, especially after winning at Epsom with Masar.”

Before running at Moonee Valley, Aramayo had shown his class when a luckless second in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2,000m at Randwick, both of his runs at that trip suggesting he’ll be suited at 2,500m on Saturday.

“I think he’s been looking for a mile and a half,” Cummings said.

“There are a lot of Derby performers in his pedigree, he ran well in the Vase and even better in the Spring Champion Stakes and he hasn’t left it on the track.

“Fitness won’t be an issue with him and he’ll really enjoy getting back to a big track like Flemington.”

Among the horses who finished behind Aramayo in the Spring Champion Stakes was Derby favourite Thinkin’ Big who has since won the G2 Caulfield Classic and is being touted as a Melbourne Cup prospect.

Also backing up in the Derby is Moonee Valley Vase winner Stars Of Carrum along with Caulfield Classic runner-up Chapada.