The Susan Hunter-trained youngster emphatically secured his place in this Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 final at Moonee Valley when he coasted to victory in the second of the night’s three $20,000 heats.

The reigning Breeders Crown champion, who started a prohibitive $1.30 favourite, led all the way for an effortless 5-3/4-metre win over Lightning McCool ($12) with Hung Jury ($27) 2-1/2 metres back in third spot.

While the Mach Three gelding strolled through the first half of the last mile in 61.9 seconds after leading untroubled from gate two, he still peeled off a 57-second last half – including a 27.3-second final section – for a 1:59.6 mile rate.

Champion reinsman Gavin Lang, who is chasing back-to-back Derby successes after winning last year’s edition with Tanabi Bromac, said it was an impressive display by the winner of nine of his 13 starts.

“We all know it’s been pretty hot down here this week, but he travelled down and has done extremely well and you’d imagine that he’d be much better for tonight’s run,” he said. “We’re looking very forward to next weekend.”

New South Wales’ top male youngster won’t have things all his way, though, with boom Western Australian colt Crown Bromac showing what all the fuss was about with a courageous win in the final heat.

The Noel Keiley-trained son of McArdle did it at both ends in his heat to run out an impressive winner.

While his 2:02 mile rate was the slowest of the three heats, he pressed forward early and did work when Living On Fire surged around the field a lap and half out but was still able to pull out a 27.9-second last quarter.

The $2.60 favourite scored by two metres from South Australian Derby winner Living On Fire ($5.70) with emergency Indigo Bay ($75) running out of his skin to finish third, 3-3/4 metres away.

Australasia’s leading reinsman Daryl Douglas, who assumed the reins aboard Crown Bromac, was certainly taken with the win of the colt who has now won four of his five starts.

“It’s not an easy job to bring one over from Perth to race against the best over here, but I’m sure he’ll acquit himself well against the best in next week’s final,” he said.

Ballarat’s Franco Newsman was the other heat winner, the David Murphy-trained-and-driven colt giving locals something to cheer about when the $5.80 chance powered to a 1:58.1 win in the second race of the night.

He held off a determined challenge from Broadways Best ($12), who became the first filly to qualify for a Derby final in 12 years when she finished second, while $1.80 favourite Hilton Fly High was third.

Staghorn Flat and Village Villain, who finished on the wheels of the placegetters in the first and second heats respectively, progress to the Derby final as the two fastest fourth placegetters.

Victoria Derby Field: Franco Newsman, Captain Joy, Crown Bromac, Broadways Best, Lightning McCool, Living On Fire, Hilton Fly High, Hung Jury, Indigo Bay, Staghorn Flat, Village Villain, Ultimate Under Fire (emerg).