Ilovethiscity Colt Stakes Derby Claim

El Dorado Dreaming might not be the only Group I winner sired by Ilovethiscity come the end of the spring carnival with the Darren Weir trained three year-old colt Savoie staking a claim on the Group I VRC Victoria Derby with a runaway win in the $60,000 VRC Derby Trial over 1800 metres at Flemington Wednesday.

Stepped up in distance to score an easy maiden win at Swan Hill earlier this month over 1600 metres, Savoie relished the even longer journey at Flemington to race up on the pace for Dean Yendall before exploding away to win by four lengths.

"Obviously he's still learning the caper. He's still young and immature but taking everything in his stride. He's just a pleasure to ride him," Yendall said.

"It's a big step-up from a Swan Hill maiden to this so all the other horses have got to do the same thing but he took it in his stride and pretty well brained them."

Retained to race by his breeders, Savoie is one of three winners from Larissar, a minor winner by Street Cry (IRE) from a family with not a great deal of Black Type until you get back to the fifth dam where you find Group I AJC Derby winner Battle Sign.

Larissar has a yearling filly by Americain (USA) and was covered last spring by Magic Albert's Group I winning son Ilovethiscity.