Racing: Eridanus to confirm Derby run

Gareth Dixon knows what to expect from one race he has a major involvement in at Alexandra Park tonight but is not so sure about the other.

Dixon will produce Eridanus with a new driver in Tony Herlihy in race five, the second leg of the bonus quaddie.

Herlihy takes the reins behind the in-form colt for the first time as he will also partner him in the Woodlands Derby series next month.

"Anna [Stormont] has done a great job with him this season but we wanted Tony for the Derby because of his experience so that is why he takes over this week," said trainer Dixon.

Eridanus looked one of the better juveniles in the country last season before missing the features because of injury but he has returned bigger and stronger this term, with two punishing recent victories.

"He is running the times and from what I have seen in races like the Victoria Derby last Saturday I'd like to think he is up to most of them."

To that end Dixon will be disappointed with anything less than a win tonight.

"I know he has a wide draw and Tony might elect to drive him in the field, but really he should win regardless because the two hard runs he has had recently haven't taken anything out of him."

But Dixon is not so sure what to expect from his two stable runners in tonight's main pace, race seven.

Both Cyclone Night and Spy have been in good form on the country cups circuit but Spy appears better suited by Alexandra Park and by the likely solid tempo tonight.

"But I don't think there will be a lot between them," said Dixon.

"Spy has the better Alexandra Park form but hasn't raced since winning the Northland Cup. Still, he won at the workouts last weekend so is pretty ready.

"Whereas the mare [Cyclone Night] is probably just a little better left-handed but she did go good at Cambridge last week."

Both will need things to go their way tonight though as Aslan comes off the back of a track record win at Cambridge two starts ago and looks a little too classy for most in tonight's field, even though 2700m is at the end of his range.