Fernando Blaster Installed Derby Favourite

BOOKMAKER Bet365 has installed fastest heat winner Fernando Blaster favourite for Saturday night’s Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby Final (520m) at Wentworth Park following his rampaging heat romp on Friday.

BOOKMAKER Bet365 has installed fastest heat winner Fernando Blaster favourite for Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby Final (520m) at Wentworth Park following his rampaging heat romp on Friday.

Running his rivals ragged with a sensational 29.61 victory in the fourth and final qualifier, the Terry Jordan-trained son of Fernando Bale couldn't have been more impressive at his Sydney debut, running sections of 5.45 and 17.76 en-route to his 15 ½ length success.

And after drawing box one for Saturday night's $75,000 to-the-winner final, bookmakers were quick to install the prodigious talent as favourite, a $2.80 elect ahead of powerhouse Victorian Rio Brave at $3.20 and Jason Fletcher's Fantastic Yankee at $4.00.

Winner at 10 of his 21 career starts, connections of Fernando Blaster refused a cool $50,000 for the star youngster early on his career, a decision that will be more than vindicated if he's to land the time-honoured Derby, first staged back in 1963, this weekend.

Quoted a $6.50 chance for Saturday night's Derby finale is the Jeff Britton-trained Axel Footluce, the son of Kinloch Brae mighty impressive landing the opening Derby qualifier in 29.78, getting the better of leader Fantastic Yankee late to score by three-quarters of a length.

Winner of the National Derby with Pacific Sky back in in 2004, Britton enjoyed a memorable night at Wentworth Park on Friday, winning three of the four Group 1 National Futurity heats on top of his Derby heat success with Axel Footluce, with Flossing, Oakvale Magic and Circle Of Dreams each successful in their respective qualifiers of the bitches only classic.

Holding a vice-like grip on the Futurity Final on the strength of the trio's dominant heat performances, the Britton-trained Circle Of Dreams heads betting at $3.20, looking to add another classic to her glowing resume, having annexed the Group 2 Laurels Final at Sandown Park in December.

Finishing second to Circle Of Dreams in that Laurels decider was the Britton-trained Flossing, the daughter of Banjo Boy quoted a $5.00 chance for Saturday's final following her all-the-way 30.15 heat win, while fastest qualifier, Oakvale Magic, is second favourite at $3.50 following her slashing 29.69 success.

The Box Draw for the Group 1 National Futurity Final is:
1. Boxcar Bella
2. Furious Not Fast
3. Oakvale Magic
4. Circle Of Dreams
5. Family Spirit
6. Flossing
7. Sorry Scott
8. Dam Slippery

The Box Draw for the Group 1 National Derby Final is:
1. Fernando Blaster
2. Rio Brave
3. Fantastic Yankee
4. North
5. Axel Footluce
6. Feral Franky
7. Cawbourne Madox
8. Famous Lee

 

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