Trainer Pat Carey has no doubts over Ethiopia's Australian Derby credentials despite the gelding heading into the Classic as a maiden.The most inexperienced runner in Saturday's Group One field, Ethiopia has been placed at all three starts including his latest when runner-up to Highly Recommended in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley."History is full of maidens who have won Derbys," Carey said."The horse has been finishing his races off and he looks like he will stay."Si

Trainer Pat Carey has no doubts over Ethiopia's Australian Derby credentials despite the gelding heading into the Classic as a maiden.

The most inexperienced runner in Saturday's Group One field, Ethiopia has been placed at all three starts including his latest when runner-up to Highly Recommended in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

"History is full of maidens who have won Derbys," Carey said.

"The horse has been finishing his races off and he looks like he will stay."

Silver Sharpe, winner of the 1970 Australian Derby when it was run in the spring, is among the maidens to have claimed the 2400-metre race while Fire Oak (1990) and Redding (1992) both notched their first career wins in the Victoria Derby.

The last time Carey sent a three-year-old into a Derby battle on such a light preparation was just two years ago and that galloper was an unlucky seventh.

His name was Cedarberg and he later justified Carey's judgment, claiming the Group One BMW last autumn before his shock death in August when being prepared for a Cups campaign.

Both Cedarberg and Ethiopia were bred at the same stud in Western Australia and both are by Helenus, the 2002 Victoria Derby winner, out of a Spectrum mare.

Cedarberg also tackled the Australian Derby at just his fourth start and Carey said the similarities don't stop there.

"Both were lovely, big-striding, scopy sorts of horses," Carey said.

"Neither Cedarberg nor Ethiopia had raced until the January of their three-year-old careers but while it was their first preparations, they lacked nothing in their education.

"No doubt Cedarberg has provided us with a most accurate and reasonable benchmark in regards to what type of horse you need to be competitive at the highest level.

"All we've got to do then is identify the horse and hope they measure up."

Perhaps the most important trait Ethiopia shares with Cedarberg is his athletic ability.

Carey said both horses had a wonderful capacity to recover from races.

"Ethiopia shows the same trademark recovery post-race as what Cedarberg did," Carey said.

"It's the most important thing.

"Fitness is all about recovery and recovery is all about fitness."

Ethiopia arrived in Sydney from Carey's Victorian base last week and has had several gallops in the right-handed direction to prepare him for his Derby assignment.

He was a $17 chance with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday with Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk the $3.20 favourite.