Boss teams with Flashy Fella

Robert Edwards, The West Australian

Champion distance jockey Glen Boss has given his seal of approval on the Michael Moroney-trained Flashy Fella becoming the fourth Victorian raider to claim the $400,000 Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) in the past five years.

Boss, who won three consecutive Melbourne Cups on Makybe Diva, is chasing a fourth win in today's $1.5 million Australian Derby (2400m) on the Rosehill Guineas runner-up Ocean Park at Randwick.

A winner of 71 Group 1 races, Boss rode Flashy Fella at his last start when he won in a thrilling three-way finish over 2000m at Caulfield on March 24.

He was praised for his nous mid-race when the pace slackened, dashing Flashy Fella around the field to lead before being headed by Specter in the straight and then lifting the Kiwi-bred three-year-old to defeat Kukri by a short half-head, with Thy a neck away in third.

Flashy Fella beat today's Australian Derby outsider Ethiopia when he finished second to Upbeat in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25.

His Caulfield victory was franked with Backbone, who finished seventh in that race, winning the Listed Galilee Final (2400m) at Mornington, Polish Knight (ninth) claiming the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and Dual Love (10th) and Geeceegazza (11th) winning over 2200m at Ballarat and 1875m at Kyneton respectively.

"He is definitely a mile-and-a-half horse," Boss said.

"That was 2000m the other day and he was looking for further. He is a good little trier.

"Look, he is a B-grader, otherwise he'd be running in the Australian Derby, but he is a good little B-grader.

"He is an easy horse to ride and he will run the distance out."

Victorian apprentice Jake Noonan rides Fancy Fella for the first time today but knows the Ascot track well, having ridden Ladysea for his father Tony in the 1000 Guineas and Natasha Stakes last year.

Moroney won't be at Ascot due to a commitment in the Australian Derby with Sabrage.

Dreamaway broke the domination of interstate three-year-olds on WA's richest classic when she claimed the WA Oaks-WA Derby double last year, following wins by Grand Journey (2008), Markus Maximus (2009) and Chartreux (2010).

Punters backed Flashy Fella into a $6 equal favourite with Rohan ahead of Melvista Stakes winner Lethal Jones and WA Oaks victor Pop Culture at $7.