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Victoria Derby “freak” declared
SENTrack • October 28th, 2025 9:45 am
Prominent owner John O’Neill has declared Observer in the Victoria Derby this coming weekend.
The Godolphin colt, fresh off a dominant and arrogant victory in the Group 2 Vase (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday, will back up in the Derby over 2500m at Flemington his Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Observer may already be a $1.90 favourite with Sportsbet, but that has not deterred O’Neill from stating the three-year-old as a Derby moral.
“It’s a sit and steer, stand and cheer in the Derby,” O’Neill said on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“He is a freak, a very nice horse.
“We all saw he had absolutely no luck in the (Caulfield) Guineas and just won (at The Valley) with authority.
“The form out of this race leading into the Derby is always incredible.
“Sure he’s going to be short but don’t be trying to dance around because he’ll just be winning. (Mark) Zahra will be riding and he’s dangerous this time of year.”
Trainer Wayne Hawkes concurs with O’Neill.
However, he says he’d wait until after the barrier draw to be more certain of Observer’s Derby chances.
“I agree with you but I wouldn’t be backing him just yet,” Hawkes said.
“I’d wait until the barriers come out because if he draws barrier 27 (very, very wide) - I’m saying you might as well just wait until Wednesday morning at 10:30.
“I’d rather take $1.80 from barrier 5 than $2 right now not knowing.
“But he certainly looks the one, there’s no doubt about that.”
The barrier draw for the Derby takes place on Wednesday morning.
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