Differing paths for Waller’s Derby trio

By Trent Crebbin, Danny Matthews and Mandy Cottell

Chris Waller will be aiming to win a fourth Queensland Derby on Saturday.

It's been anything bar a conventional leadup for Waller's trio of runners in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The master trainer has won the race on three occasions, including with Kovalica and Kukeracha in the past four years and will saddle up three runners, headed by filly Belle Detelle.

A three-quarter sister to Verry Elleegant, Belle Detelle is aiming to become just the third filly to win the Queensland Derby this century, with Waller preferring the true mile-and-a-half journey over the 2200 metres of the Queensland Oaks.

She finished sixth to stablemate Imperalist in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on May 17, a run Waller said was more than acceptable given the circumstances.

"It was solid, it was a very wet track," Waller said.

"She got a long way back and she finished off well. The barrier draw (is important), whether it's Eagle Farm or Doomben, doesn't matter where you're at."

Unfortunately for connections, Belle Detelle has drawn barrier 21, which will come into 17 of 18 if emergencies fail to get a run, with James McDonald booked to ride.

While tactics remain a query for Belle Detelle, Waller confirmed Imperalist would be ridden similarly to last start when leading throughout to take the Rough Habit Plate at $61 odds.

"Imperialist surprised us a little bit. In the Australian Derby we went back to last and he never made an impact so we just sort of formed the opinion that he might not stay," Waller said. 

"I asked Tommy Berry after the Rough Habit and he said 'no, he'll get further' so obviously ridden close to the speed the other day, we'll ride him similarly on Saturday."

The trio is rounded out by last-start Ipswich winner Existential Bob, a gelding by Ocean Park that Waller himself owns alongside wife Stephanie

"Existential Bob won at Ipswich the other day. He's come up here to run in the Derby and he'll stay. He's by Ocean Park, he needs to improve but he's in there (with a chance) as well," Waller said.

At $7, Belle Detelle is the second favourite in an open market headed by Statuario at $5, who finished second to Femminile ($8) in the South Australian Derby on May 3.

Meanwhile, an overdue change of luck at the barrier draw has Kimochi poised to rebound at Eagle Farm.

All roads lead to the Stradbroke Handicap for high-class mare Kimochi but trainer Gary Portelli says an inside barrier draw will ensure she is given every opportunity to snare the Kingsford Smith Cup along the way.

The winner of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in the spring, Kimochi raced three times during the autumn, finishing runner-up in the Challenge Stakes and a brave fifth in the T J Smith Stakes from the outside gate.

A torrid run from another awkward draw put paid to her chances in the All Aged Stakes when she went forward and was trapped wide throughout.

"My fault. I told the 'jock' to put the foot down out of the barriers to get across and four other jockeys had the same instructions, so she ended up three and four deep the whole way," Portelli said.

"It was a disaster.

"She's had plenty of time to come through it and she's had a barrier trial. She is going really well."

Significantly, Kimochi has come up with barrier three for Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm and while the race isn't her grand final, Portelli says the low draw brings her right into it.

"She has finally drawn a gate where we can just put her to sleep and give her a chance to run home and she will get every chance this weekend, I'm sure," he said.

"She is better second-up and she's had a freshen up so there is chance she might just need the run in this race over the 1300, which I think is her sweet spot distance-wise.

"Then the 1400 metres two weeks' later is going to be spot-on for her.

"She's on the fourth line of betting for the Stradbroke so it's the right race for her. Hopefully she can draw a gate in that as well."

Robert Sangster Stakes runner-up Ameena is an early scratching from the Kingsford Smith, while Rothfire has also been withdrawn after being treated for ongoing issues stemming from a stone bruise.

His trainer Robert Heathcote remains hopeful Rothfire can recover in time to take his place in the Stradbroke Handicap next month.