Shamoline Warrior has been on a Victoria Derby mission ever since he won his maiden at Sale in April.  The Shamardal colt reaches his day of reckoning at Flemington tomorrow and a win could be the first leg of a classic winning double for his sire.

Darley stallion Shamardal, who won the 2005 French Derby, is also the sire of the Bart Cummings trained filly Faint Perfume who has her final lead-up for next Thursday’s VRC Oaks in the Wakeful Stakes tomorrow.

Shamoline Warrior’s dam Picholine is another on the cusp of a Group 1 double.  The Dehere mare, who was G1 placed in a Flight Stakes at Randwick, is also the dam of Rebel Raider (Reset) who was a 100/1 winner of the last year’s Victoria Derby.

Shamoline Warrior goes into the Victoria Derby at his fifth run back from a winter spell.  Mark Kavanagh has trained him to the minute after lead-up victories in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 3 and the G2 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17.

The colt has looked Derby material ever since he won a Sale maiden on debut in April.   Thoroughbred Express reported he stormed home to collar the leaders right on the line in the Plumbtec Lakes Entrance Maiden (1200m).

“He’s got gears,” jockey Michael Rodd said.  “He was really travelling from the half-mile and has got quite a big future.”

Returning at three this season, Shamoline Warrior was fourth to Starspangledbanner in the Listed Vain Stakes at Caulfield in August but suffered second-up blues when unplaced to Carrara in the Listed Henry Bucks at Flemington.

Shamoline Warrior was back on course for the Derby when a length second to Tribunal at Caulfield in September prior to his black-type wins earlier this month.

Shamoline Warrior was bred by Harry Perks at Toorak Park Stud in South Australia and sold for $60,000 at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.  He has a 2yo half-sister by Exceed and Excel named Sultah that Shadwell Estates bought for $300,000 at this year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale.