Mark Kavanagh had the disappointment of Whobegotyou being beaten at odds-on in last year's $1.5 million Victoria Derby but believes Saturday's favourite Shamoline Warrior could give him his first win in the Classic, if he can get the trip.Ironically, Shamoline Warrior is a half-brother to Whobegotyou's conqueror, 100-1 shot Rebel Raider who outstayed the Kavanagh-trained gelding.Dual Derby winner Rebel Raider is by Reset, a son of staying influence Zabeel, while Shamoline Warrior is by 2005 Fren

Mark Kavanagh had the disappointment of Whobegotyou being beaten at odds-on in last year's $1.5 million Victoria Derby but believes Saturday's favourite Shamoline Warrior could give him his first win in the Classic, if he can get the trip.

Ironically, Shamoline Warrior is a half-brother to Whobegotyou's conqueror, 100-1 shot Rebel Raider who outstayed the Kavanagh-trained gelding.

Dual Derby winner Rebel Raider is by Reset, a son of staying influence Zabeel, while Shamoline Warrior is by 2005 French Derby (2112m) winner Shamardal, a son of Giant's Causeway.

Kavanagh said he'd like to think Shamoline Warrior was a better stayer than Whobegotyou.

"He hasn't done a lot wrong," he said.

"He gives us every indication he'll get the 2500 metres but at the end of the day we don't know for sure."

Kavanagh paid $60,000 for Shamoline Warrior at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne on behalf of the Delbridge Racing Platinum Syndicate, managed by Mark Leo.

"At the time he didn't look so flash. He looked a bit of an ugly duckling but certainly he's turned into a swan now," the Flemington trainer said.

Kavanagh said Rebel Raider hadn't shown much at the time of the purchase but Shamoline Warrior had already proved to be a real bargain.

Since having blinkers applied Shamoline Warrior has looked good, winning the UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and then beating Derby rivals Onemorenomore and Gathering in the Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

And, as Kavanagh has said all along, the colt has been set specifically for the Victoria Derby whereas Whobegotyou's main spring aim last year was the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) which he brilliantly won.

Kavanagh said the Danny O'Brien-trained Rockferry, a $550,000 yearling purchase and a brother to New Zealand Derby winner and Melbourne Cup placegetter Xcellent, was the horse with a proven staying pedigree.

However he expressed doubt about the strength of the Geelong Classic (2206m) form, a race in which Rockferry finished an unlucky third behind Derby rivals Southern Skye and Our Heir Apparent.

Kavanagh pointed out that Southern Skye was beaten nearly 17 lengths when 10th to Derby rival Monaco Consul in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, albeit on a heavy track.

"There may be a kink in the Geelong form," he said.

Hugh Bowman, who rode Rockferry at Geelong and chose him as his Derby mount ahead of the Patinack Farm pair Onemorenomore and Gathering, had his own take on the Pentire colt.

"The (Geelong Classic) form isn't as strong as some of the stronger races, but I've stepped away from the form and gone for the horse," he said.

"If you were going on form you'd pick Onemorenomore every week but (over) 2500 metres you need a horse that can run it.

"I'm not saying Onemorenomore won't run it. I'd be surprised if he doesn't run in the placings."

Bowman said he couldn't see any of the horses who ran behind Shamoline Warrior in the Norman Robinson beating him in the Derby.

He said Rockferry would have won the Geelong Classic had he come around the field rather than getting held up when trying to go through it.