Mark Kavanagh would win tomorrow's Victoria Derby at Flemington??

If such a thing as poetic justice existed in horse racing, then Mark Kavanagh would win tomorrow's Victoria Derby at Flemington.

BetRepublic through its free horse racing tips, giving a clue to all the horse racing betting people about the winning chances of Mark Kavanagh at Victoria Derby. Kavanagh saddles up the favourite, Shamoline Warrior, in the $1.5 million event in a bid to extract some glory from a spring carnival that has yet to deliver all he had hoped.

In the past month the trainer has lost stable stars Maldivian and Cats Whisker to injury, and last week he watched his champion Whobegotyou go under in the Cox Plate as a short-priced favourite.

Whobegotyou ran second in last year's Derby behind Rebel Raider, which, ironically, is the half-brother to Shamoline Warrior which bolted in the Norman Robinson Stakes (2,000m) a fortnight ago. Kavanagh told this morning's Derby media conference that he did not know whether Shamoline Warrior can stay the distance.

"It's a pretty strong Derby. There's a rap on a lot of horses and the 2,500 metres is certainly the key to the whole race," he said. "We have set him specifically for this race and he's done everything to please us along the way. There's been no hiccups."

Rebel Raider had not won his Derby when Kavanagh spent his budget to buy Shamoline Warrior for a syndicate of owners who had given him only $60,000. "At the time [Shamoline Warrior] was a bit of an ugly duckling but he's certainly a swan now," Kavanagh said.

"There's no doubt this race is a maker of champions. He might have cost $400,000 or $500,000 [if Rebel Raider been a Derby winner then]."

Rain forecast

Shamoline Warrior has three wins and a second on dead tracks and the prospect of further rain in Melbourne should not dent his chances.Derby day racegoers have been told to prepare for anything as inclement weather settles on the city.

A spokesman for the Weather Bureau says storms and showers are forecast for Melbourne tonight and again tomorrow. He says it is hit and miss whether Flemington will see much rain, which would take the edge off the track after a week of warm and dry conditions.

Track manager Mick Goodie says Flemington was rated a dead 4 and that little rain had been registered this morning. For more horse racing betting picks & are available at BetRepublic Horse racing Betting tips.