Morvada on trial for Victoria Derby for Morphettville trainer Peter Jolly

It’s 12 months on and the veteran horseman returns to Melbourne hoping to snag the Moonee Valley Vase with promising three-year-old Morvada.

“I actually won a trip to last year’s Cox Plate after buying a pint of beer up in Darwin,’’ Jolly said.

“We had a fantastic day but to be back here with a horse in a feature is certainly beyond my expectations. It’s exciting.”

Morvada and fellow South Australian three-year-old Silvera will get an accurate guide to where they stand ahead of next week’s Group 1 Victoria Derby after Saturday’s $200,000 feature.

The pair finished in the placings behind filly Pretty Punk in the Hill Smith Stakes in Adelaide last time out and on Saturday face quality opposition with contrasting formlines.

The James Cummings-trained Prized Icon and Veladero both chased home Cox Plate hopeful Yankee Rose in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last time out, while So Si Bon and Sacred Elixir come out of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas won by Divine Prophet.

“It’s a tough race. Leon’s horse Pretty Punk made the Adelaide form look OK on Wednesday,’’ Jolly said.

“He’s got enough speed to get in the box seat from barrier one. Hopefully everything goes right.

“It’s the last race after two days of racing which could be a worry drawn on the inside but they’re saying the track should be pretty good, even with some rain.”

Morvada is marked a $21 chance ($31 to win the Derby), while Silvera is listed at $13 ($26 in the Derby) with Kerrin McEvoy riding for his uncle Tony.

“Morvada has earnt a crack at these horses and if he runs well, we will definitely have a crack at the Derby,’’ the trainer said.

lincoln.moore@news.com.au

Originally published as Morvada on trial for Derby