The West Australian`s travelled east to Victoria for the Spring Racing Carnival and claimed the classic prize of the $1,500,000, Group I, AAMI Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday. Plastered, unwanted at $7,000 as a yearling, came to the hallowed turf of the VRC and before a record AAMI Victoria Derby Day crowd of 115,542 (up 18,483 from last year) and became the top three-year-old of the spring over the 2500m distance.

The race was set up for everyone of the 10 horse field when Lions Gate set a rapid pace down the back straight and to the 500m mark. The field closed as they approached the turn with Savabeel sitting on the fence and waiting. Chris Munce saw Lions Gate tiring quickly and made a move inside him. They went to a 1L lead and looked to be travelling well with 300m to run.

But it is a long way down the Flemington straight, longer than these young three-year-olds have ever run in their lives, past roaring crowds, and the meters to the very end of the straight and the finishing line seem to take for ever to complete.

Plastered and jockey Paul Harvey sat at the back of the field during Lions Gate`s charge and it was not until 300m from the post that Harvey made a move. They moved to the outside of the field and clear space. Plastered quickened well and he made ground on Savabeel and as the 100m pole went by they had the lead. Count Ricardo, a mere $800 yearling purchase, was inside Savabeel and trying hard as well. Plastered went by the post with a comprehensive 1 1/4L to spare and Savabeel (Zabeel) scraped into second by a nose over Count Ricardo.

The time was 2.35.49, the 600m in 35.83. Soi Cowboy (Woodman) was fourth, Heavenly Pun (Distorted Humor) was fifth, Mr Martini (Bianconi) sixth and Cedar Manor (Oregon) seventh.

"This is a terrific day for West Australia," said Plastered trainer Lindsey Smith.

"I believe this is the first West Australian horse to win the Derby so it is good for the whole of the State, it is good for the breeding side of it, and damm good for us," he added.

Smith said Plastered would not run in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

"The owners will be here, but I won`t be," he said.

"I am booked on the plane on Monday and Plastered will be home on the 14th.

"I was not concerned about being too far back as I knew he was a great stayer.

"The further they go the better I knew he would be," he said.

Savabeel`s trainer Graeme Rogerson was gracious in defeat going over to congratulate Smith.

"It was a good effort," Rogerson said.

"We sat back and waited and I don`t think my chap gets 2500m.

"I am not disappointed and we have a great mile and a quarter (2000m) horse.

"He has his chance and the other horse stayed the 2500m.

"We had to back up, but there are no excuses," he said.

Rogerson confirmed that he would not run Savabeel in the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Savabeel`s jockey Chris Munce said, "We might have gone too soon, but the way the race was run we had to go."

Damien Oliver, jockey of Rogerson`s other entrant Cedar Manor, said, "He raced too fresh and he was beaten on the turn.

"He ran his race in the early stages and the occasion got to him," he said.

Plastered, a gelding by Laranto out of Tipples (by Cheraw), won convincingly and deserved the spring honours of the classic staying test that the AAMI Victoria Derby presents. Tucked away out of sight in West Australia, not bred in the purple and not surrounded by the glamour of the earlier eastern spring racing for three-year-old, Plastered came and drank his fill with ease

Plastered was eventually bought for $35,000 prior to 2003 Magic Millions Ready To Run Sale, and he has won seven of his eight races, and earned stakes of $1,173,940.

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