While he concedes My Scotsgrey lacks experience and race craft, trainer Shaune Ritchie believes he has the attitude and pedigree to be more than competitive in Saturday's Victoria Derby.Ritchie watched the AAMI Vase from his home in New Zealand and agrees Whobegotyou deserves to be the odds-on favourite for the blue riband.But the 2500 metres of the Derby has found many early three-year-olds wanting in the past and Ritchie is counting on it happening again."It is a unique race and history says t

While he concedes My Scotsgrey lacks experience and race craft, trainer Shaune Ritchie believes he has the attitude and pedigree to be more than competitive in Saturday's Victoria Derby.

Ritchie watched the AAMI Vase from his home in New Zealand and agrees Whobegotyou deserves to be the odds-on favourite for the blue riband.

But the 2500 metres of the Derby has found many early three-year-olds wanting in the past and Ritchie is counting on it happening again.

"It is a unique race and history says the best horse doesn't always win," Ritchie said.

"On class alone Whobegotyou is going to win.

"I can read, so on form we can't win. Luckily the horse can't read so he doesn't know that.

"But it isn't 2000 metres, it's 2500 and the more dour they make the race the more it plays into our hands.

"At the beginning of the spring everyone thought Weekend Hussler was unbeatable and he wasn't so that gives us hope."

My Scotsgrey is by Golan, the sire of last year's Derby winner Kibbutz, out of My Chameleon who is by Grosvenor who won the race in 1982.

His third dam is Analight, winner of the 1975 Caulfield Cup.

My Scotsgrey has had just three starts winning on debut at Avondale in early September on a heavy track before running fourth at Te Rapa on October 3.

Ritchie brought him across the Tasman to test his credentials in last week's Geelong Classic (2206m) where he ran second to Derby rival The Tiger after missing the start.

"He walked out of the gate as he always does which is a trait that's not a lot of fun to deal with," Ritchie said.

"But over 2500 metres at Flemington I don't think it's that significant.

"He's a very laid-back horse and he doesn't pull or do things wrong so he should be able to tack on to the field."

Craig Williams, who rode Kibbutz last year, will be aboard My Scotsgrey while Damien Oliver, who rode the gelding at Geelong, will stick with Vase runner-up Buffett.

"The great thing about Melbourne in the spring is that if one jockey can't ride your horse, there is always another one in the wings and we are very happy to be able to get Craig," Ritchie said.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Whobegotyou remained at $1.60, ahead of Norman Robinson Stakes winner Pre Eminence at $7.50, Larry's Never Late ($9) with My Scotsgrey and Buffett both at $14.

The main aim for My Scotsgrey is the New Zealand Derby on February 28 but a lack of suitable spring races at home prompted Ritchie to bring him to Australia.

"The Guineas races are worth a lot of money but they are all over 1600 metres and he just doesn't have the brilliance for those," he said.

"He really is a stayer."

Which may just be the edge he needs on Saturday.