Chris Waller has avoided weighing in on the recurring debate around whether the Victoria Derby should be shortened in distance.

The Hall of Fame trainer will be represented by Providence and Savisanta in Saturday’s edition of the 2500m Classic at Flemington, a race he has won three times previously.

The call for a reduced Derby trip resurfaced earlier in the week, though Gai Waterhouse again voiced strong opposition to changing one of the spring’s longest-standing races.

Waller’s Derby portfolio includes Preferment (2014), Manzoice (2022), and Riff Rocket (2023). This year, Providence brings a family link to Preferment, descending from Southbank — who ran third in the Thousand Guineas — and Rezoned, a full sister to Preferment.

Providence comes into the Classic after finishing runner-up in last Saturday’s Vase (2040m), a similar form route to that taken by Preferment who used the Geelong Classic as his springboard.

“Providence is by Wootton Basset that is a great international stallion that leaves winners over all distances, so that gives us a bit of confidence that he’ll get 2500 metres,” Waller said.

“He certainly hit the line strongly last Saturday, so he’s a great chance.

“We thought he might have been a bit sharper earlier in the prep and subsequently it’s a bit of a rush now and we’re backing him up in only seven days, but it’s worked before, we’ve won a Derby off a seven-day turnaround.”

The second of the Waller pair, Savisanta, ran third in the Geelong Classic where he once again displayed staying potential.

“He’s coming off a similar preparation to what Preferment had,” Waller said.

“He’s by Savabeel, Preferment was by Zabeel, so there’s some relationship there.

“The Derby is a unique race. They have to be fit and well prepared, and stamina is the key.”

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