Racing: Stable holds keys to Victoria Derby

Jockey Stephen Baster isn't worried about Johnny Vinco's disappointing last start in the Geelong Classic. Photo / Getty Images

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable have been tipped to hold the keys to the Victoria Derby for a number of weeks, and days out, they still loom large as a big player with as many as four runners - and a trio of guaranteed hopes.

Sully, Main Stage and Johnny Vinko are the likely trio to represent the Cranbourne-based Kiwis, while Beachwood might get a run for the stable too; Busuttin - when training in his own right - has already bagged the Derby prize with Sangster in 2011.

Compare their strong hand to last year when they were unable to get a run with second emergency Anaheim, who picked up a consolation prize in the form of the Listed 1800m race on Oaks Day.

Of course, their Derby prowess doesn't stop at Sangster - Tavago won the ATC Derby last year in a massive upset at the time, but by now, there are no Derby surprises when it comes to this astute training partnership.

While Sully ($8.50) and Main Stage ($7.50) are the two market-elects of their runners, Busuttin/Young also has Johnny Vinko ($31-$26) a very much live hope, while Beachwood ($101) waits on a run as lone emergency.

But as Young told Racing.com, they had plans for even more contenders at one stage.

"I had five lined up - Padraig was the only one that let me down a little bit, and Salsamor we decided to take a different path with him.

"But the other three that we had in mind have all gotten there - days out mind you - and Beachwood surprised us a bit, but I doubt he'll get a run, I doubt there'll be a scratching."

As it happens, their market leaders have drawn wide while the maiden Johnny Vinko has drawn well in barrier four.

But Young said Hugh Bowman - a Derby specialist with three wins in the Flemington version alone, including on Sangster - wasn't concerned in regards to Sully. "Hughie's not too worried about the draw - he said it might be a blessing being out a little bit wide," she added. "We've taken a different path with him. He took a week to recover from Sydney, so we got him on the mend, back bright and bouncing around, so that's why we're a month between runs.

"But I can't fault him on his work Tuesday - he worked super."

Sully last ran in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes behind Derby rivals Ace High and Tangled, and Young said the freshen-up will help him - but also reminded punters of his tendency to lay-in when racing left-handed, although they have the gear in place to try and offset that.

"I think it might [help being fresh], because he does have a better turn of foot out of the three," she added.

"He has got a very good 600m sprint with him. "The key with him is to make sure he does everything right back on the Melbourne leg.

Main Stage (Michael Walker) jumps from the direct inside of Sully from what will be barriers 13 and 14 respectively - if the emergency comes out - and Young said she hopes they follow each other into the race.

"They're right beside each other - hopefully they're talking to each other in the running and hitting it out in the finish," she said.

Despite still being a maiden, there is a huge watch on Johnny Vinko, too, having placed in the UCI Stakes behind Main Stage before disappointing last start in the Geelong Classic after starting from barrier 15 of 16 out of the 2200m chute at Geelong.

"I think it was probably more the barrier draw [than soft ground]. He was wide, so he went back a little bit," Young reasoned.

"Stephen [Baster] said, 'Don't worry about it. It was just that he got back too far'.

"It didn't knock him around too much. He's still quite confident he'll run a good race."