Jockey Michael Walker says Vuelta is bound for a Derby but his performance at Flemington will indicate whether the colt tackles a classic in the spring or the autumn.

Vuelta is a son of High Chaparral, the sire of the Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul and the ATC Australian Derby winners Shoot Out and It’s A Dundeel.

Walker says Vuelta has shown the characteristics of a Derby prospect in his two starts for a placing at Werribee and a win at Flemington on June 14 but he will learn more when he partners the horse again on Saturday.

“Tomorrow will give us a good guide on his Derby prospects, whether he’ll be a spring or autumn horse,” Walker said.

Vuelta steps up to 1600m for the first time in the Taj Rossi Series Final. Walker said the two-year-old would handle the distance but his 59kg was his biggest concern.

“The mile is going to suit him but it’s going to be a bigger task for him this time with 59(kg) on his back and drawn barrier 10 out of 13,” Walker said.

“The track, it doesn’t matter whether it is dry or whether it is wet, I think he’ll run on anything.”

As the $8 second favourite, Vuelta is the shortest of the three David Hayes-trained runners in the early betting on the $120,000 race with Lotion at $21 and the filly La Cicciolina at $13.

However, Hayes’s assistant trainer Bruno Rouge-Serret said there was less between the trio than the bookmakers’ market indicated.

“It’s actually come up a very even race and a lot will depend on luck in running,” Rouge-Serret said.

“La Cicciolina gets a nice weight going into that race so she’s certainly not without a chance. The three of them all have great chances.”

Hayes won last year’s Taj Rossi Series Final with Honey Steel’s Gold before the the gelding posted midfield finishes in the Victoria Derby last spring and the South Australian Derby in the autumn.