The Group 1 Victoria Derby is worth $200,000 and is Australia’s oldest classic harness race.

Run from a mobile start the 2011 Victoria Derby covers a distance of 2,240 metres.

Currently, Ian Dornauf’s Royal Verdict is favourite with $3.50 a win with Luxbet.

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Tragedy has struck one of the early favourites for the 2011 Victoria Derby, with The Muskeg Express died early Wednesday morning.

The horses death has deeply impacted his trainer Luke McCarthy.

“It’s devastating because he was such a lovely horse with such a bright future,” Mr McCarthy said.

For a more detailed preview of the 2011 Victoria Derby, as well as barrier draws and form, go to our Victoria Derby preview.

In-form pacer For A Reason, trained and driven by Luke McCarthy, has drawn ideally with barrier two. The brilliant Art Major Colt has displayed first class style of late, winning his past four from five starts but placing second in the heats last week.

For A Reason is one of three top colts representing Queensland in the prestigious Victorian event on Saturday night after blitzing the heats, alongside Lanercost and Major Bronski.

The classy Queensland pacer Lanercost, who took out heat one at Maryborough in sensational style, had all the luck in the barrier draw for last week and has been allocated the second row barrier 9 for the final. The colt is aiming for their fourth successive victory and will be driven by trainer Darrel Graham, who has expressed how pleased the draw.

Barrier nine will allow Lanercost, a son of Courage Under Fire, to sit behind the likely pacesetter For A Reason and hopefully find a forward position early on.

Also drawing wide for the final is the ever consistent and impressive Stuart Hunter-trained Major Bronski with barrier 11. Another three-year-old from super sire Art Major, Major Bronski took out heat 2 last Friday night ahead of For A Reason, giving him his ninth consecutive victory.

The third heat winner to qualify for the final was Lincoln Royal who claimed an emphatic victory ahead of Chariot King by 7.5m.

Lincoln Royal has drawn barrier eight this Saturday and will have Maurice McKendry in the sulky while Chariot King has drawn far better in barrier three.

The Alabar Victoria Derby falls as the sixth race at the meeting and is due to jump at 8:32pm (VIC time).

2010 Alabar Victoria Derby Final Field & Barrier Draw: