Racing: Lady luck deserts New Zealand Derby raiders

Things have gone from bad to worse for the New Zealand raiders on the Victoria Derby.

The A$150,000 classic will be held at Moonee Valley on Saturday night but New Zealand's chances of continuing our incredible record in the race have already been dealt two hefty body blows.

The first came when the early favourite for the Derby, Pukekohe pacer Baileys Dream, was scratched from his heat with foot soreness on Saturday, meaning he cannot start in the final.

And now the three Kiwis who did make the Derby have all drawn poorly.

Sires' Stakes winner Tribute and Place Of Glory, who beat him in their heat at Ballarat last Saturday, will both start from the second line while Great Northern Derby winner Badlands Bute starts from barrier five.

That may not sound bad except that he will still be wider on the track than the warm favourite Sir Galvinator, who beat him in their heat, and Australia's second-best hope, Emmas Only, who is a flyer from the mobile gate.

That means even Badlands Bute, who is a very fast beginner, will struggle to cross to the lead, with Sir Galvinator a very good chance of cruising forward and taking control of the race.

With his trainer Stuart Hunter's stable racing in unbelievable form Sir Galvinator gives Queensland a great chance at a rare Derby victory.

The good news is New Zealand punters should be able to get good value for the three Kiwis after the draw.

There will be plenty of other New Zealand interest on the night, with four more representatives in the feature races.

Oscar Wild and Harnetts Creek will start in the Moonee Valley Cup, the winner of which is guaranteed a start in Saturday week's A$450,000 Hunter Cup.

West Auckland mare Lanson is a surprise entry in the Australasian Trotting Championships, where she has had the misfortune to draw the same heat as exceptional local Sammy Do Good.

Lanson will be returning to the scene of her biggest win - she won an Interdominion heat on the track last year - with local driver John Caldow to drive her.

Baileys Dream's trainer Steven Reid will be looking for some compensation for missing the Derby with his stable star when Fake Denario takes on Australia's leading four-year-olds in a A$25,000 supporting race.

* There have been few changes in the second rankings for the Interdominions.

The new assessments were released yesterday, with the most notable news the withdrawal of in-form four-year-old Likmesiah, who will instead be set for the Taylor Mile-Messenger double in April.

Armbro Innocence, who won a group two race at Addington last Thursday, has been the biggest mover, coming into 40th in the pacing rankings after being at 50 last week.

Scorching moved from 34 to 22 after his Addington win but both horses are certain to get a start in the series so the changes are largely irrelevant.

With the next sustaining payments for the series on Monday there will be more withdrawals before the final rankings on February 16.