Morphettville trainer Leon Macdonald chases feature-race double with So You Too, Pretty Punk at Flemington

It was on the corresponding day eight years ago that Macdonald was centre stage at the famed Melbourne racetrack after his outstanding colt Rebel Raider, ridden by Clare Lindop, had claimed an upset win in the Victoria Derby.

The Hall of Fame trainer is without a Derby runner this year but saddles up a couple of three-year-olds capable of delivering on the big stage.

After finishing out of the placings at his first four starts, So You Too has emerged as a serious racehorse this campaign, smashing a good field of Adelaide three-year-olds at Morphettville earlier this month.

He faces a huge rise in class in today’s $200,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes, the opening race on Derby day, but Macdonald believes he’s up to the challenge.

The Morphettville horseman, who trains his team in partnership with son-in-law Andrew Gluyas, said the strapping youngster had the raw talent to be one of the better horses he has trained in recent years.

“I think so ... well, we hope so at least,” Macdonald said.

“He’s a lovely type of horse. He looks very much like his sire (So You Think).

“It’s a big jump up to a Group 2 on Derby day and it's a pretty strong race ... but what he’s done so far gives us the indication he’ll make the grade.

“I guess the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

“I don’t think you see too many horses that can make that step but hopefully he’s one of them.

“He went straight past Crafted last time ... and he came out at Moonee Valley last week and was very, very competitive, admittedly against slightly easier opposition.”

So You Too, who has drawn handily in barrier two with ace hoop Zac Purton in the saddle, is rated a $13 chance in latest UBET fixed-odds markets for the 1600m feature. Hey Doc, prepared by Angaston trainer Tony McEvoy, is on the second line of betting at $4.60, narrowly behind Morton’s Fork at $4.40.

Macdonald has a busy start to the day, with his promising filly Pretty Punk among the leading contenders in the second race, the $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).

A daughter of Rebel Raider, Pretty Punk won impressively over Derby hopefuls Silvera and Morvada in the Hill Smith Stakes at Morphettville on October 8 then stuck to her guns when third to fellow South Australian Captain Duffy in the Geelong Classic 10 days ago.

Pretty Punk is well in commission for the Wakeful, rated a $4.80 chance with UBET despite drawing barrier 11. Nick Hall, who was on board the filly at Geelong, retains the ride.

“Maybe she didn’t quite run the 2200m at Geelong. That was Nick Hall’s opinion — that maybe the 2000m sees her out. That’s why we went back to the Wakeful,” Macdonald said.

“She’s done very well since and Nick was pretty keen to ride her again.”

ben.scadden@news.com.au

Originally published as Macdonald chases another piece of Derby day glory