Racing: Two Kiwis eye Derby

Occidentalis will be at juicy each-way odds in the final event tomorrow. Photo / Sarah Ivey

It's called by many the greatest day's racing in the world.

Derby Day at Flemington.

Whether it's the world's best nine-race programme is subjective - what is certain is that it's fantastic.

Four group ones, two group twos and three group threes.

This is Australia's best meeting and tomorrow at Flemington a few of the New Zealanders may just get in the way.

The last fully official New Zealand winner of the Victoria Derby was Classic Mission back in 1971 and he got there only after Australians questioned whether he was a ring-in.

Many claimed, ridiculously, that he was a 4-year-old because of the formation of his teeth.

What may have been the first underarm incident was avoided and Classic Mission, odd teeth or not, put the opposition to the sword.

Monaco Consul and Our Heir Apparent are going to try hard to do the same thing for us in tomorrow's A$1.5 million Victoria Derby.

Our Heir Apparent is grossly inexperienced, but was very brave in finishing second after running greenly in the Geelong Classic as a lead-up to this.

He is learning with each race and you hope his lack of ringcraft doesn't count too heavily against him.

You might have said the same thing about Monaco Consul if he hadn't gone to Sydney first and torn off the group one Spring Champion Stakes like a horse in his third second of racing, not his first.

He could be something special.

The New Zealand contingent tomorrow:

1.50pm Race 2, A$250,000 Lexus Stakes, 2500m

No 2: Sterling Prince, ridden by Hugh Bowman for Wayne Hillis. As brave a performance as you'd see to finish a close third in the Geelong Cup last week. He was running on empty in front from the 220m, but refused to give in and was swamped only in the last 50m. Trainer says he's done well since. Top rider and well up to winning.

No 5: Hoorang, ridden by Michelle Payne for Ian Shaw. Latest runs in Australia have been useful, but just good enough to be beaten against some of the carnival horses. Gets home well and the big Flemington straight will suit. Place perhaps best.

No 10: Six O'Clock News, ridden by Noel Harris for Paddy Busuttin. Forced to cover a lot of extra ground after drawing wide before finishing midfield in the Geelong Cup. Well up to winning this, but needs to do something quickly. Wide draw again no help, but Flemington allows a rider to leave a sprint until the home straight, so no extra ground needs to be covered. His best effort would have him winning this.

4.05pm Race 5 A$750,000 Mackinnon Stakes, 2000m

No 6: Sir Slick, ridden by Michelle Payne for Graeme Nicholson. Vets ruled him out of last week's Cox Plate, declaring him to be sore. Grand old campaigner, now a length or two off his best. Will give a sight for a long way, but the younger horses might be too strong late.

No 9: Mandela, Mark Zahra for Richard Yuill. Scored impressive first-up in the A$123,000 Seymour Cup (1600m), having not raced since third to Spin Around in the Auckland Cup in March. Carried 59kg, so effort was very good. These are much better horses, but on Seymour run rates as least a place hope.

4.55pm Race 6 A$1.5 million Victoria Derby, 2500m

No 4: Monaco Consul. Corey Brown for Mike Moroney. Stunning in winning the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney. If he does the same to this field he will be one of the best colts New Zealand has produced in a long time. Has done well and is expected to be hard to beat.

No 8: Our Heir Apparent: Inexperienced young stayer who was a brave second in the Geelong Classic lead-up to this. Whether he's yet learned enough to threaten remains to be seen, but will be in it for a long way. Realistic chance.

7.10pm Race 9 A$250,000 AAMI Business, 1400m

No 11: Occidentalis. James McDonald for Richard Otto. James McDonald will make a special trip from New Zealand for this one ride after competing at Matamata today. Occidentalis is up against class opposition in Sniper's Bullet and Triple Honour, but he has a big weight advantage with the minimum of 53kg. He was stunning winning by a big margin at Pukekohe recently. The big home straight will help.