The Victoria Racing Club likes to say Flemington is the home of the staying horse—and with the Melbourne Cup and the classic staying test for the new season’s three-year-olds, the Victoria Derby, on its honour roll, it’s hard to argue.
As the racing year winds down, the club again puts future stayers on display: Saturday’s two-year-old contest at headquarters dangles a golden carrot—a ballot exemption into the Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 1, or, if the winner is a filly, a pass into the VRC Oaks (2500m) five days later.
Since its 2017 inception, the Byerley Handicap (1800m) has offered an early pathway to the big stage on the opening day of Cup Week.
Not every winner has taken up the Derby or Oaks exemption, but last year’s victor Red Aces did—and finished a creditable sixth in the Classic just three months on.
The race has also proven a genuine guide: Johnny Get Angry was runner-up in the Byerley before returning the next season to capture the Derby in 2020.
This year’s edition has drawn eight juveniles. Among them, Frankie’s Boy will have only his second raceday outing when he stretches to 1800m.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained youngster steps up sharply in trip after a debut fourth on heavy going over 1300m at Newcastle last month.
Waterhouse and Bott know how to nurture stayers and hope Saturday is the first step toward a Derby tilt.
“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.”
Bott added that racing left‑handed for the first time—after doing most of his groundwork the Sydney (right‑handed) way—will be another learning curve.
“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 takes the ride on Frankie’s Boy.
Planning a flutter on the Byerley Handicap and the early Derby form lines? Compare odds, futures, and promos across Australia’s leading betting sites before you stake.
