Impressive last start country winner Mukarrar has emerged as the leading Victoria Derby hope for trainer David Hayes.Hayes has seven three-year-olds still in the Derby but is most excited about the prospects of Mukarrar who surprised him at his second race start with a 10-length win in maiden company over 1900 metres at Geelong to earn a start at Flemington on Sunday."He is an interesting horse," Hayes said."I didn't think he was that good but he won easily at Geelong."At his only other start Mu
Impressive last start country winner Mukarrar has emerged as the leading Victoria Derby hope for trainer David Hayes.
Hayes has seven three-year-olds still in the Derby but is most excited about the prospects of Mukarrar who surprised him at his second race start with a 10-length win in maiden company over 1900 metres at Geelong to earn a start at Flemington on Sunday.
"He is an interesting horse," Hayes said.
"I didn't think he was that good but he won easily at Geelong."
At his only other start Mukarrar was beaten 14 lengths when he finished sixth at his debut in a maiden field over 1400 metres at Morphettville on August 19.
He raced much handier at Geelong and turned for home in fourth place on the synthetic track.
The last 600m was run in 33.92s which added to the merit of Mukarrar's victory.
"I thought he might win at Geelong but not like that, Hayes said.
"Sometimes you have an emerging racehorse when that happens."
"He got under our guard but sometimes they are the best horses."
Mukarrar is $13 with TAB Sportsbet for the Derby and Hayes will get a better idea about his chances when he tests him in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m).
He has also nominated Street Cry gelding Pitt Street, who has shown promise on city tracks without winning. He is $26 for the Classic.
Hayes' other Derby entries are others maiden performers Muktashef ($61), The Blues ($61), Valedictorian ($81) Zigstroem ($101), as well as Meezaah ($26) who is a 1000-metre winner at Geelong.