Victoria Derby 2023 Barrier Draw & Final Field

The Victoria Derby is the three-year-old staying classic of the Melbourne Spring Carnival races and for the 2023 edition, 16 runners have accepted for this 2500m feature.

Although he lost as a $1.28 favourite last start in the Neds Classic, Riff Rocket (barrier 5) has remained a firm favourite in the Victoria Derby markets

Before that narrow defeat at Caulfield, the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old recorded a brilliant 5.5-length win in the Super Impose Stakes and via that 1800m Listed affair, he took care of a similar field to what he'll face in the Victoria Derby.

Apulia (barrier 3) was beaten more than 7.5 lengths behind Riff Rocket in that Flemington clash and he was also 2.7 lengths away in fourth via the Neds Classic before backing up in the Moonee Valley Vase and winning that Group 2 by two lengths.

Being by Fiorente and out of a High Chapparal mare, the 2500m should be fine on breeding.

The Busuttin & Young stable often has Victoria Derby contenders and one of their 2023 hopes is Sunsets (barrier 16), who upset Riff Rocket to win the Neds Classic on October 21.

He has somewhat mixed his form over a long second campaign, with the son of Dundeel well beaten in the Super Impose Stakes before that latest triumph.

Kosgei (barrier 12) is the other Busuttin & Young representative and the half-brother to Tavago (2016 Australian Derby winner) arrives off a third in the Geelong Classic.

While Verdad (barrier 4) is deep into his first prep, the Griffiths & de Kock-trained gelding brings arguably the best-exposed form, having just missed behind Griff in the Stutt Stakes before a forgivable run behind the same galloper when sixth in the Caulfield Guineas.

A large part of the fabric of Melbourne racing, the Victoria Derby was first run and won in 1855 by Rose Of May and the race has gone from strength to strength ever since. 

The immortal Phar Lap was a winner in 1929, as was Dulcify in 1978 and in more recent times Extra Brut took out the Derby before being sold to Hong Kong.

Worth $2 million, the Victoria Derby is the feature race on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which runs for four total race days over a week. 

These days the event doesn't draw the absolute cream of the crop like it previously did, but the huge prize money on offer will ensure the fields are competitive for years to come. 

Johnny Get Angry (2020), Hitotsu (2021) and Manzoice (2022) have won the last three editions of the Victoria Derby.