Queensland Derby Betting Odds - Odds-on for Kovalica

Having won five from eight career starts, including a second-up victory in the Queensland Guineas second-up this prep, Kovalica has been a short favourite for the Queensland Derby a long way out and he'll start as the outright market elect, with $1.90 the current quote via Ladbrokes

After missing the Rough Habit Plate on May 13 due to a foot abscess, the Chris Waller-trained gelding instead took on older rivals in the Group 1 Doomben Cup last Saturday and acquitted himself well, finishing third behind Huetor and Numerian at WFA level.

Chris Waller also prepares Special Swey ($7), an ex-New Zealand galloper that led throughout to win the Rough Habit Plate by 1.5 lengths and that is traditionally the main lead-up race.

On the third line of betting is Promises Kept ($8), who recorded two stylish victories before a runner-up finish in the South Australian Derby where he was reeled in by the very talented Dunkel.

Now under the care of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, the son of Cluster was around six weeks between runs going into that Morphettville feature, so he'll only trip fitter here.

Aberfeldie Boy ($9) rounds out the single figure chances in the Queensland Derby, with the gelding catching the eye late in the South Australian Derby.

He also finished third in the Victoria Derby last spring and arguably should've won that feature at a huge price.

The Queensland Derby was first run in 1868 and has been taken out by some champions of the turf, including the likes of Kingston Town, Strawberry Road and Rough Habit.

This has been run over 2400m for the entirety of its history, besides 2017 where the race was run over 2200m at Doomben.

Mr Quickie (2019), Kukeracha (2021) and Pinarello (2022) have won the last three editions of the Queensland Derby, which was not run in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.