Racing: Elite rivals may help Marika in Derby bid

The incredible class of his rivals could be Marika's greatest asset in his quest to win the Great Northern Derby.

Last season's Juvenile Pacer of the Year will start from the second line in Friday's $125,000 classic at Alexandra Park in what is shaping as the strongest Derby staged in New Zealand since the epic crop of 1997.

That year Holmes D G beat London Pride and Christian Cullen in a season where other three-year-olds were Yulestar, Homin Hosed, Kym's Girl, Facta Non Verb and Another Party.

While the contenders in this year's Derby has an awfully long way to go to equal the deeds of those superstars, Friday's race does contain some genuine open class stars of the future.

Baileys Dream, who will start favourite, looks a younger version of Just An Excuse while Revagain has the stamp of his half-brother Elsu. Add to that Advance Attack, Tribute, Badlands Bute and Presido and Friday's race will be a stunner.

But the man with the job of trying to get Marika home first, driver Ricky May, says the depth of the field may be his only saving grace.

Marika will start from four on the second line, which on paper looks a disaster after Baileys Dream drew barrier two.

If Baileys Dream runs to the front and is not challenged May realises he will need a miracle to get past him.

"That is why I think having all these good horses in there will actually help us," said May.

"I can see some of those fast beginners off the front line making Baileys Dream work early and then there are some tough horses off the second line who can work to maybe cart us into the race.

"So while it won't be easy to give these horses a start and still win I'd rather have a really good field than a bad one where Baileys Dream drew the front and we were faced with trying to sit outside him and beat him."

While Marika's second line draw means May will have to drive a near perfect race to get him home the Mid-Canterbury driver says he owes the three-year-old just that.

"I didn't drive him that well last time," he admits about his defeat to Tribute at Alexandra Park on December 3.

"After the race Laurence [Hanrahan, trainer] said I am allowed one of those drives from time to time so let's hope I have used it up."

Marika has chased Tribute home in their last two meetings but on both occasions has emerged with at least as much credit as the winner.

"I have been thrilled with his last two runs. We had to use his good draw in the Sires' Stakes and he only got run down because he worked so hard while last time he covered too much extra ground.

"But this week, having to come from the back, I think he might be even better.

"When I drove him that way at Addington three starts ago he was awesome and beat Tribute easily."

Even from his second line draw Mariks is the $4.50 second favourite for the Derby, with Baileys Dream at $2.65. The early money has been for Revagain, who moved in from $10 to $7.

* Just An Excuse's Victoria Cup hopes were dealt a huge blow at yesterday's barrier draw.

The dual New Zealand Cup winner drew the second line in the A$300,000 feature at Moonee Valley on Saturday night, a draw made worse by favourite Sokyola drawing the front line. With Sokyola expected to lead Just An Excuse and Young Rufus (barrier seven) are going to need to cover extra ground to beat him.

Kiwi trotters Lyell Creek and Allegro Agitato also face second line draws in the A$125,000 Australasian Trotting Championship.

Derby depth

The $125,000 Great Northern Derby on Friday night looks one of the strongest in a decade.

Driver Ricky May says that depth may help second favourite Marika overcome a second line draw.

The southern pacer has been unlucky in his last two starts.

Open class champ Just An Excuse has copped a horror draw in this week's Victoria Cup.