PREFERMENT, part-owned by successful Mount Isa businesspeople Linda and Graham Huddy, will be out to make history for his race colours in the Australian Derby on Saturday.
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Preferment is the favourite for the 2400-metre staying test at Randwick – the race Shoot Out was successful in for the Huddys back in 2010.
It was one of five group 1 successes for the Huddy-owned superstar Shoot Out.
Preferment is looking to emulate the Derby feat of Shoot Out, while also racking up his second group 1 victory after taking out the Victoria Derby last spring.
Trained by Chris Waller, Preferment assumed favouritism for Saturday’s Derby with his close second to New Zealander Volkstok’n’barrell in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) a fortnight ago.
Waller believes Preferment is peaking at the right time and is ready to show his best over the 2400 metres of the Classic at Randwick.
Preferment is a son of Zabeel, and like most of that breed, has needed time.
‘‘He has really matured now,’’ Waller said.
‘‘Leading up to the Victoria Derby, he did a few things wrong but he has grown up a lot.
‘‘On Quick Strike’s Tulloch run, he deserves his chance in the derby.
‘‘He’s by High Chaparral and the distance should not be a problem.’’
The derby double has been elusive with Mahogany in 1993 the last horse to follow his Flemington win with victory at Randwick the following autumn.
Preferment is at $3.20 to repeat Mahogany’s feat with Volkstok’n’barrell at $4.20.
The big market mover has been Tulloch winner Hauraki who is now at $4.80.
A field of 10 will line up in the Derby with Preferment, who finished second in the Rosehill Guineas, to start from the outside.
