Racing: Early Derby favourite faces giant task

Georgetown (outer) brilliantly won at Alexandra Park on New Year's Eve but has to start from the inside of the back line in the Derby prelude. Photo / Martin Sykes

One-time Woodlands Derby favourite Georgetown faces an uphill battle to make the classic.

The $200,000 pacing Derby will have two preludes at Alexandra Park on Friday night, with only the first five home guaranteed starts in the final a week later.

Georgetown was the long-time Derby favourite until Rider On The Storm took that honour by winning his Alexandra Park debut last Friday.

And now it looks like Georgetown could need luck to make the Derby as he has drawn poorly at one on the second line in the second prelude.

While the Derby is 2700m, Friday's preludes are only 2200m and although Georgetown was stunning winning the two major 3-year-old races at the Christmas carnival, he face a tough fresh-up test on Friday.

While he faces having to go around his opponents he has, at least, drawn the weaker of the two preludes. The first features Rider On The Storm, who is the $4.50 favourite for the Derby after opening at $16, with Fiery Falcon, Themightyquinn and Justa Tiger also in that line-up.

Monkey King remains the $3 favourite for the Trillian Trust Auckland Cup on March 7, even though he was a slightly disappointing third behind stablemate Baileys Dream in a workout at Alexandra Park last Friday.

Baileys Dream led most of the way in the 2200m mobile workout and easily held out Gotta Go Cullen, with Monkey King struggling to make ground up the passing lane. Trainer Steven Reid was not concerned but admits the $3 price for Monkey King is very short compared with Baileys Dreams $8 quote.

Former ATC president Noel Gibson died on Saturday after a short illness. He was on the committee or president of the ATC during the construction of its award-winning stabling area and members' grandstand.

A long-time enthusiast, he more recently raced top trotter Pompallier.