Few clubs champion staying talent like the Victoria Racing Club, custodian of the iconic Melbourne Cup and long‑time home of the season’s great three‑year‑old staying exam, the Victoria Derby.
This Saturday, as the current racing season draws to its close, Flemington stages a two‑year‑old event tailor‑made for future stayers: win and you’re exempt from the ballot for the Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 1—or, for fillies, guaranteed a start in the VRC Oaks (2500m) five days later.
The race is the Byerley Handicap (1800m), launched in 2017 as a springboard into Cup Week’s headline program.
Some winners have passed on their Derby/Oaks ticket, but last year’s hero Red Aces took up the option and finished sixth in the Classic only 12 weeks later.
Historical footnote: Byerley form has already produced a Derby champion—Johnny Get Angry ran second in the juvenile version before lifting the Derby itself in 2020.
The 2025 (season-closing) renewal has drawn eight juveniles. Among them is lightly raced Frankie’s Boy, lining up for start number two.
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the colt rises from 1300m after finishing fourth on a heavy Newcastle track at his debut last month.
The training partnership is renowned for shaping young stayers and harbours Victoria Derby ambitions if the campaign goes to plan.
“He’s going to be a horse that appreciates getting over ground in time and there are limited options for them here (in Sydney),” Bott said.
“He’s ran on the one occasion and it’s hard to take any reference from that as it was on the heavy track at Newcastle and he struggled on that ground.
“He’d had three trials prior to that and he’s a horse that we wanted to get out over a trip and he’s a horse that could easily, with the right campaign, be down there for a Derby.
“He’s got the pedigree and everything to suggest that, but it’s all about getting him seasoned and conditioned if it is to be an option.”
Frankie’s Boy will also be asked to handle going the Melbourne (left‑handed) way for the first time, another small test on the path forward.
“He’s done some work the Melbourne way, especially early in the prep,” Bott said.
“There are a few things for him to overcome on Saturday and that is one of them that will be new for him as well.”
Ben Melham has been booked for the ride.
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