Bookies are having a hard time splitting the top trio in Saturday’s South Australian Derby 2013 at Morphettville with Hvasstan, Hioctdane and Shoreham dominating the markets in the three-year-olds’ classic.

Hvasstan is co-favourite for the 2013 SA Derby after some early money on the raider. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Set to run as Adelaide Race 7 at 3:35pm (local) this year’s $500,000 Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) features a class field of 15 hopefuls.

Currently two of those are sharing the first line of South Australian Derby betting at a quote of $4.20 with the Peter Gelagotis-trained Hvasstan and local hope Hioctdane battling for favouritism.

Drawn in gate 11 with ace interstate hoop Glen Boss to ride, visiting Fastnet Rock colt Hvasstan is a dual Group 1 performer having run fourth in both the Victoria Derby and more recently the Australian Guineas.

They are also a Group 2 winner having taken out the Alister Clark Stakes over 2040m at Moonee Valley in March before being well beaten by It’s A Dundeel in both the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby.

Back against a somewhat easier class of rivals for the SA Derby Hvasstan is tipped to bounce back and score their maiden Group 1 victory.

Their biggest danger is co-favourite Hioctdane from the local stables of Richard Jolly.

The Strada gelding has been in flying form this prep most recently winning the Group 3 Morphettville Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) last Saturday.

They won that by over four lengths but will have a harder task backing up again this weekend on the short turnaround from gate 15 going up to the 2500m for the first time.

The other major player in the South Australian Derby odds is then $4.60 second pick Shoreham, out from $4.50, who has come up trumps with barrier three.

Saab Hasan’s Reset gelding has run top three in their four most recent runs in Melbourne winning the last start at Flemington in the Listed Galilee Final over the 2500m, the sole horse in Saturday’s Derby clash to have won over the distance.

Shoreham is certainly bred to win this race being a son of Reset whose own sire was dual Derby winner Rebel Raider and Hasan is confident they can rise to the occasion.

“He might not have beaten much in the Galilee but it was the manner of the victory that impressed,” he said.

The only other single figure fancy is then the David Hayes-trained Gerontius (barrier two) who pays $8.50 to improve on their last start fourth in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick from April 13.

Others in the mix at more generous prices out to score an upset SA Derby result then include VRC St Leger runner-up McNutly ($13 out from $12) who was fourth in the Galilee Final, Royal Academy filly Molto Bene ($15) coming off a seventh in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks here last Saturday and the lightly-raced Packing Empire ($21) who broke their maiden status at Bendigo last start over the mile and a half.

Check out the full South Australian Derby 2013 odds below, fixed win prices provided by our preferred online sportsbook bookmaker.com.au.

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2013 SA Derby Odds

Morphettville Race 7 – 4:05pm (local) – 04/05/2013

*Fixed Win odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change