Flashy Fella worth punt

Robert Edwards, The West Australian

Dual Victoria Derby-winning trainer Michael Moroney will pay a $4400 late entry fee to have progressive stayer Flashy Fella included in the field for tomorrow fortnight's $400,000 WATC Derby (2400m).

Moroney has Flashy Fella booked to fly out of Melbourne with Ausdrill Karrakatta Plate hot-shot Alezan Thunder this morning.

Moroney, who won the Victoria Derby with Second Coming in 1997 and Monaco Consul (2009), is chasing two derbies with the son of top New Zealand stallion Thorn Park. The $500,000 SA Derby (2500m), run at Morphettville on May 5, is firmly on the table.

"We have to come a fortnight before the derby because of the way the flights are with Easter next weekend," Moroney said. "The way the two derbies fall, there is a chance he can run in both."

Moroney has ample time to pay the entry fee with the final declarations not taken until Tuesday week.

Rohan is a hot $2.40 favourite on Player to win tomorrow's Melvista Stakes (2200m) in the final colts and geldings prelude into the derby.

Caiguna, as a $3 favourite in tomorrow's WA Oaks (2400m), heads the fillies' charge.

Flashy Fella earned his ticket for Perth with his determined win in last Saturday's Centenary Plate (2000m) at Caulfield.

Jockey Glenn Boss took the initiative to dash Flashy Fella round the field and lead mid-race when the tempo slackened, before being headed by Specter in the straight and fighting on to beat Kukri and Thy in a tight finish.

The gelding was at $101 a start before, when he flashed into second behind Upbeat in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25.

Moroney brought Flashy Fella across from NZ last year to run at the Brisbane winter carnival, finishing 11th to Hot Snitzel in the Group 2 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.

"He is not bred to stay but he certainly knows how to run when he gets over a distance," Moroney said.

Moroney said Brad Rawiller would ride Flashy Fella in the Ballymore stable's first assault on the WATC Derby. Rawiller won the Kingston Town Classic twice on Niconero (2006 and 2008) and the 2010 WATC Derby aboard Chartreux for trainer David Hayes.