David Hayes is confident he can win his first SA Derby with Extra Zero despite the colt having been beaten twice in Classics this season.Hayes said Extra Zero, who was second to Monaco Consul in the Victoria Derby, was now "in the zone" after his last start fifth to Shoot Out in the AJC Australian Derby."I actually think he will win on Sunday," Hayes said."The horse is flying."The colt would give Hayes his second Derby win in eight days after stablemate Chartreux won last Saturday's WA Classic a

David Hayes is confident he can win his first SA Derby with Extra Zero despite the colt having been beaten twice in Classics this season.

Hayes said Extra Zero, who was second to Monaco Consul in the Victoria Derby, was now "in the zone" after his last start fifth to Shoot Out in the AJC Australian Derby.

"I actually think he will win on Sunday," Hayes said.

"The horse is flying."

The colt would give Hayes his second Derby win in eight days after stablemate Chartreux won last Saturday's WA Classic at Ascot.

Extra Zero has been a consistent performer in the major three-year-old races this season but has only won two of his 14 starts.

As a two-year-old he took out the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1410m) at Flemington and four starts ago he beat Absolute Faith in the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.

Some of his best performances were last spring when he was beaten a short half-head by Carrara in the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley and finished fourth to Starspangledbanner in the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

But it is as a stayer that Hayes has had the highest hopes for Extra Zero and his two Derby performances have been full of merit.

Hayes says the key is to get Extra Zero to relax and he believes his charge will do that in the SA Derby with Glen Boss retaining the mount after riding him in the AJC Derby.

"He pulled too hard in Sydney and with that run under his belt he has just come into the zone," Hayes said.

He said he could see Extra Zero rebounding from his AJC Australian Derby defeat in the same way as Chartreux trained on from his second to Rundle in the Galilee Series Final (2500m) at Flemington before he won the WA Derby.

"What I liked about him (Extra Zero) in Sydney was that he pulled hard and he battled on," Hayes said.

"The problem with Chartreux at Flemington was he pulled hard and battled on but when he relaxed he won (the Derby)."

Extra Zero is $13 with TAB Sportsbet to win the SA Derby, as is stablemate Token Of Honour.

Last start Token Of Honour was an eye-catching second to Red Colossus in Adelaide's traditional Derby leadup, the Listed Chairman's Stakes (2014m), but Hayes can't see him beating Extra Zero.

"He's a good first three chance but I'd be surprised if he can beat Extra Zero," Hayes said.

Red Colossus is the $4.60 second favourite for the Derby while Chairman's Stakes third placegetter Kidnapped is the $3.70 favourite.