Inexperienced Pinstripe Lane is going to be a better racehorse next year but connections still have Victoria Derby hopes for the colt.

Trained by Malua Racing’s John Sadler, Pinstripe Lane faces his biggest test in Saturday’s Group Two Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley ahead of the $1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington a week later.

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Pinstripe Lane broke through at his fourth start with a middle-distance victory at Cranbourne last month.

At his only start since, Pinstripe Lane ran on for fourth behind one of the Derby favourites Polanski in a race at Flemington.

Malua Racing’s general manager Troy Corstens said the colt would be better suited stepping up in distance, especially if he gets to the Derby over 2500m.

“We think he’s going to be a really nice stayer next year but if we can get to the Derby we’ll be really happy,” Corstens said.

Corstens said Pinstripe Lane was not only strong to the line at Flemington but wanted to keep going past the post – an encouraging sign for a potential stayer.

“The 2040 metres should suit tomorrow but the 2500 metres the following week I think will suit him even better,” he said.

The Sydney form appears the strongest heading towards the Derby but that will be tested on Saturday as Sydney three-year-olds Savvy Nature and Drago occupy the top lines of betting for The Vase.

Savvy Nature won the Spring Stakes at Newcastle and has placed in the Gloaming and Spring Champion Stakes at his past two starts.

“You’ve got to be competitive with horses like that if you think you can run in the Derby,” Corstens said.