Sydney form proved superior in this year’s Victoria Derby, with Stormy Marco making light of a seven-day back-up to claim the $3 million Group 1 event over 2500 metres at Flemington on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained colt achieved his first Group 1 win under the expert stewardship of champion jockey James McDonald.
This victory came just one week after the son of Wootton Bassett finished fourth in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. Following the race, McDonald playfully compared the win to another of his significant successes at Australia’s most famous racecourse.
“I’m so happy Chris backed him up, he just knows his horses so well and he was here to produce a wicked turn of foot,” McDonald said. “It was just like I was on Verry Elleegant again, it was so smooth. I don’t think he’s like your typical VRC Derby horse, but he’s got class. He’s a sharp horse. I thought he could have been a Guineas horse, so it shows the ilk we hold him in. He’s done a good job.”
McDonald, of course, partnered Verry Elleegant to a memorable win in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. While Stormy Marco is not yet in her class, he certainly justified the confidence of the punters, who backed him into the $4.40 favourite, securing the second win of his eight-start career.
From barrier 14 in the 16-horse field, McDonald rode Stormy Marco conservatively in the early stages, allowing him to improve his position at every stride before presenting him in the straight. The colt surged to the front at the 300-metre mark and drew clear for a decisive two-length victory.
Finishing second was the $101 outsider Cold Shower, with the first filly to contest the Derby in 36 years, Quick Finish ($21), finishing a further 1-1/4 lengths away in third.
“It’s a funny thing barrier draws, we drew the car park, but when you’re drawing inside you feel like you have to hold the spot,” McDonald commented. “If this horse probably drew inside, we would have been niggling to the first corner, a little bit disorganized. I just want to keep it smooth, I wanted him to relax. I had Zahra (Mark, on Vallice) to my inside and he was saying, ‘sleep baby, sleep’. That’s all we did, the two of us, and he had superior form.”
This win marks McDonald’s second Victoria Derby success, having previously won three years ago with Riff Rocket, also trained by Waller. This adds to Waller’s impressive Victoria Derby trophy cabinet, which already includes wins with Preferment (2014) and Manzoice (2022).
The Derby result capped off a dream 40-minute period for Waller and McDonald, as horses wearing the Hermitage Thoroughbreds green and red silks continued their winning form. Lady Shenandoah followed Stormy Marco’s win with a dominant display in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes.
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