Mike Moroney's faith in Monaco Consul never wavered and the trainer was rewarded when the colt produced a superior staying performance to win the Victoria Derby.Moroney won the 1997 Derby with Second Coming but followed a path based on a European preparation with Monaco Consul who had not raced since October 3 when he won the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.The 2500 metres of the Victoria Derby is regarded as the toughest test for early three-year-olds but Monaco Consul made it look simple when

Mike Moroney's faith in Monaco Consul never wavered and the trainer was rewarded when the colt produced a superior staying performance to win the Victoria Derby.

Moroney won the 1997 Derby with Second Coming but followed a path based on a European preparation with Monaco Consul who had not raced since October 3 when he won the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.

The 2500 metres of the Victoria Derby is regarded as the toughest test for early three-year-olds but Monaco Consul made it look simple when he ranged up and went past Extra Zero to beat him by a length.

It was also the first major win of the Melbourne Cup carnival for Corey Brown who has ridden many placegetters in the big races.

"We trained him in the English style and sent him out with a pacemaker a few times and it worked," Moroney said.

"We knew our horse and were helped a lot by my brother Paul who spent time in England watching the stayers there.

"He hadn't raced for a month but he has had some very good gallops and eats really well.

"He has such a good turn of foot and when Corey went for him he put it beyond doubt."

Paul Moroney looks after the New Zealand arm of the Moroney stable where Monaco Consul began his career with four starts resulting in a win and a second.

His win in the Spring Champion surprised punters who sent him out at $51 on the heavy track which he handled with ease.

Moroney thought so highly of Monaco Consul he kept him in the Cox Plate until the final acceptances with the race won by another three-year-old son of High Chaparral in So You Think.

Following Saturday morning's shock scratching of the favourite Shamoline Warrior, Rockferry assumed top billing at $4.20 with Monaco Consul sent out at $4.80.

Brown had been offered the ride on Monaco Consul in the Spring Champion but was already committed.

He jumped at the chance when the offer came again and was thrilled with the result.

"It's unreal to finally get one of these big races at this carnival after coming so close so many times," he said.

Brown's closest finish was aboard Bauer in last year's Melbourne Cup when he just failed to catch Viewed by a nose.

Onemorenomore ($6) led the field from the barrier to the home turn but had little to offer when challenged as the field straightened.

Geelong Classic winner Southern Skye ($14) got up along the rail and briefly went to the front and kept on trying when put to the test.

Viking Legend and Extra Zero loomed up to win but Monaco Consul proved too strong.

Viking Legend ($9) held on for third, 2-1/4 lengths from Extra Zero ($9) with Southern Skye fourth and Rockferry fifth.

Extra Zero's trainer David Hayes praised the ride of Nash Rawiller but conceded his horse was beaten by a better one on the day.

"It's one of the best rides in a big race I've seen in a long time and you can't say it was bad luck with a ride like that," he said.

"I think he is a weight-for-age horse of the future."

Viking Legend's trainer Gai Waterhouse said the son of 2003 Victoria Derby winner Elvstroem would now be spelled.

Viking Legend ran third in the Spring Champion Stakes and third to Hanks in the AAMI Vase.

It was another bad result for the Patinack Farm team with Onemorenomore ($6) sixth and stablemate Gathering ($15) seventh.

Earlier Patinack's Wakeful Stakes favourite Run For Naara ($3.10) finished fourth, more than seven lengths from the winner Faint Perfume.