Biggest challenge looming

Trainer Ange McDowall had an insightful answer when asked to name the biggest danger to her buzz pacer Lumineer's unbeaten streak.

Rather than nominate a key rival like Spankem or Poster Boy, McDowall said Lumineer himself could bring about his own undoing.

In a fascinatingly raw assessment, McDowall fears Lumineer's relative inexperience and tendency to become headstrong at times in his races could leave him vulnerable in Saturday night's Group 1 Victoria Derby.

"I'm more worried about him beating himself than any particular rival," she said. "Don't get me wrong, I've huge respect for so many of the rivals, but my horse has to get it right himself or he's going to vulnerable.

"He didn't get it right in the heat. He needs to learn from that and do things better or he won't win again this week.

"He hung out for a long time down the back straight last week once he found the lead and when Jason (Lee, driver) tried to straighten him, he started to fight him and overrace quite badly.

"Even on the home bend, just when he straightened, you look at the replay and you'll see he wanted to duck-in.

"I wasn't happy with him last week. He got away with the win, but found some new tricks he hasn't shown us before."

Lumineer is an easing $2.40 to $2.50 favourite with the Aussie TAB after drawing gate six where he has one major rival Spankem (four, $3.10) on his inside and another, Poster Boy (seven, $5.50) outside him.

There has also been early speaking for Code Bailey (gate one, $11-9.50) and Poster Boy's stablemate, Maraetai (three, $12-10).

Lumineer has shown explosive gate speed to win the Australian Gold final last season and his Derby heat this week, but will need every bit of it to cross from gate six.

"We always knew this was going to be his biggest test and that's how it's panned out," McDowall said.

"I can't tell you if he's learnt from last week because he never shows you much in his track work, but I know he'll be fitter for it and that he'll also need to race more tractably against a field this strong."

Spankem is clearly the All Stars' best hope, especially now The Devils Own will start from outside the back row (gate 13). He is a $13 shot.

Adam Hamilton