KEY POINTS:
A throwaway line from Cambridge trainer Murray Baker set Kibbutz on the path to Saturday's Victoria Derby at Flemington.
The three-year-old gelding by Golan, bred by Hastings racing identity Laurence Redshaw from his unraced Kaapstad mare Misskap, has gone from an immature maiden to Derby favourite in the space of a few months.
Kibbutz had one start for Baker and Redshaw - a third to Valpolicella in the $50,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) for two-year-olds at Ellerslie in April.
Potential buyers from Hong Kong swooped, he was set for sale but no one fronted with the cash.
Enter prominent racehorse syndicator Terry Henderson, managing owner of 1995 Melbourne Cup winner Doriemus, and his business partner, former Australian cricketer Simon O'Donnell.
They snapped up Kibbutz in an "opportunistic buy" after one viewing on the training track.
"When I first saw him I thought he was one of those big, typically immature New Zealand geldings that would take 18 months to come to hand," Henderson told Melbourne radio station Sport 927.
"Murray Baker said, 'You might as well put him in work because he just might be forward enough for spring.'
"The Derby certainly wasn't our initial intention but he's stepped up to the mark."
Top trainer David Hayes trusted Henderson's judgment, saying: "If you like him, I'll take half."
Kibbutz has had four starts in Australia for two wins and a slashing Derby trial at Moonee Valley last Saturday when second to Marching in the group two AAMI Vase (2040m).
Said Hayes: "It was a fantastic run. He gave them a start and was really coming into the race beautifully when he got run off on the home turn and went out of picture, he was so wide.
"He's come through the race well but my hesitation is he's not completely race-wise yet, he's very raw and he does a lot wrong.
"When he arrived and I gave him his first gallop I thought, 'The Kiwis have got the better of us.'
"He was very slow and very backward. Like a lot of good horses, he saves his best for raceday."
Kibbutz yesterday drew barrier seven in a 13-horse field for the 2500m Derby, which carries a stake of A$1.5 million ($1.8 million).
Marching, who dominated from a handy spot in the running last Saturday, drew ideally in barrier two and reclaimed favouritism at $3.80 with TAB Sportsbet in Australia.
Kibbutz and the Danny O'Brien-trained Villain (barrier nine) were $4 equal second favourites while Down Under Boy, from the stable of New Zealand's Melbourne Cup&
45;winning trainer Sheila Laxon and partner John Symons, was at $26 after running fourth to Marching last Saturday.
O'Donnell, now a television personality with Channel Nine, expects a two-horse war down the long Flemington straight on Saturday.
"I couldn't be happier after his last run on a tight, turning track," O'Donnell said yesterday.
"But Marching jumps out, travels well and runs straight as a gun barrel, which will hold him in very good stead against his own age.
"Kibbutz has got to find two lengths on Marching, and run straight but he's right on target."
* Trainer Danny O'Brien can strengthen his grip on Tuesday's Melbourne Cup when underrated gelding Douro Valley has his final lead-up in Saturday's group one Mackinnon Stakes.
The six-year-old has been largely forgotten in the build up to Australia's most famous race despite beating all but stablemate Master O'Reilly in the Caulfield Cup.
While the latter is the $4.80 Melbourne Cup favourite, Douro Valley is a $26 chance. O'Brien doesn't believe there is that much between them.
"Master O'Reilly deserves to be favourite but the horse closest to him was Douro Valley."
- AAP
