A DERBY TO SAVOUR OR TO FORGET?There have been great years. 1996 for example. But there are more frequently ordinary years.Now and then a filly strikes. Twenty-one years ago one did. She was exceptional. She didn't stop there.This year seems, at least to this horseplayer, to be an enigma. True, the logical favourites may bolt in. One may even turn out to be a top stayer. But then it's the Bart Cummings background of one and the breeding of the other that sort of gets them this elevated spot. Whe

A DERBY TO SAVOUR OR TO FORGET?

There have been great years. 1996 for example. But there are more frequently ordinary years.

Now and then a filly strikes. Twenty-one years ago one did. She was exceptional. She didn't stop there.

This year seems, at least to this horseplayer, to be an enigma. True, the logical favourites may bolt in. One may even turn out to be a top stayer. But then it's the Bart Cummings background of one and the breeding of the other that sort of gets them this elevated spot. When they last met, they slogged it out. Run the Guineas again and who can say?

Does this mean they're exceptional, or ordinary?

And there's a Brisbane promiser that just might not like Rosehill. Two amazing wins at Randwick - unbeaten there- sandwiched in.

Bred to run the distance.

And the Victoria Derby winner (after a spellbinding win at Randwick). Looked a phenomenon in the making. Hasn't regained that form but trainer says he might here.

And his Melbourne runner-up. Also said to have hit form now. Maybe, maybe not.

And there's a decent sort in the shape of the NZ Derby third placegetter, a horse that obviously will stay all day.

Two good young stayers fought out the Tulloch Stakes seven days ago. It's not as good a guide as the Rosehill Guineas, but it does throw up Derby winners. And one of the two, the winner last week, might be anything. But the other had the harder run.

The next lot are a bit iffy, until we get to that filly at the bottom. She's after the big money and already has the recently-run Kiwi Oaks on her trophy stand. Interesting ownership story too.

And of course Bart has a smokey that beat the more fancied stablemate in a trial. Mean anything? Bart says no.

A race to watch.

Perhaps not one to put your savings on, though.