Race 4 - DOWNBYTHESEASIDE VICTORIA DERBY (1ST HEAT)

SS=Sit Sprinter V=Versatile E=Enforcer L=Leader

OVERVIEW:Despite the fact this is far from the strongest Derby heat tonight it is still an absolute cracker featuring at least three runners with genuinely exceptional talent. That being said, having drawn gate one the freakishly brilliant HURRICANE HARLEY (1) looks near on impossible to beat. It’s actually tough to quantify how huge some of this little fella’s performances were last term. His demolition of arch-rival Centenario in a Vicbred Super Series semi-final and mind-blowing effort to sustain multiple runs when nailing that same horse in the season-ending Breeders crown decider were among the most exhilarating triumphs of the 2017/18 term. Tonight he rocks up with one dynamic trial behind him and if he holds his rivals wide early as expected they’ll only get as close to him as new driver Amanda Turnbull wants them to. Despite being comfortably handled by HURRICANE HARLEY (1) on multiple occasions last season his Breeders Challenge-winning stablemate HARDHITTER (5) looks an obvious second pick here particularly if he rolls forward and they control proceedings from the top end though BETTERNBETTER (10) is another excitement machine that finally gets his chance to tackle the cream after having his juvenile campaign curtailed by injury. The other two runners with significant upside are MALCOLMS RHYTHM (9) and OUR MILLIONAIRE (2) who cruised home in 1:54.1 at start number two beating Max Delight last time out while ARGGGHHH (8) can’t win but can certainly qualify for next week’s Derby final from the perfect trailing draw.