Arcora to be put on Victoria Derby path after Byerley Handicap win at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young -trained Justify colt claimed the Byerley Handicap (1800m) on Saturday at Flemington from Bayou Music and Arabian Prince.
'Trent and Natalie, not many better at getting a middle distance three-year-old up to (derby) trip, there's lots of nice 2000m races coming up in September,' stable representative Sam Griggs said.
'We'll plot a course with him, whatever is going to suit him best, but get him here Derby Day and he'll make his presence felt.'
Arcora travelled outside the leader and kicked strongly in the straight.
Runner-up Bayou Music enjoyed a lovely run behind the speed and looked the win but proved reluctant to take a split.
Once manoeuvred around heels, the Godolphin colt Bayou Music charged late but could not bridge the gap to the winner.
Arcora books his spot in the Derby!
A gritty win for the son of Justify, can he make an impact come Spring? @busuttin pic.twitter.com/YYdY6zsypg
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 19, 2025
Arcora deserved the win after being placed the past two starts.
'I thought off his first-up run over 1400m (second), I said to Trent and Natalie 'he's the derby horse', he's got so much improvement ahead of him,' Griggs said.
'It's nice to tick the (win) box and will do him a world of good to get his head down in front because he's been going close and got the killer blow today.'
Victoria Derby-winning jockey John Allen endorsed the spring ambitions.
'He's quite well developed as a two-year-old and got plenty of strength about him … I'd imagine they'd be thinking a derby for him in the spring,' Allen said.
'He certainly feels like he has the raw ability.'
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