Champion New Zealand trainer Murray Baker has already won the Victoria Derby and is optimistic Weather With You can win a start in this year's classic with victory in Wednesday's Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) at Flemington.
Baker won the 2011 Victoria Derby with Lion Tamer and prepared the 2008 winner Kibbutz before the gelding was sold to clients of David Hayes.
Weather With You finished runner-up over 1400m on his first Australian start at Sandown on September 6 and will earn ballot exemption for the Victoria Derby if successful.
Like Australian Cup winner Humidor, Weather With You is by Teofilo and Baker, who prepares the gelding in partnership with Andrew Forsman, is confident of a forward showing.
"The race at Sandown was probably a bit short for him but he stuck on all right and he's done well since," Baker said.
"Under the circumstances I thought his run there was good and he will certainly be better suited stepping up to 1800 metres on a nice big track like Flemington.
"He ran second in the Champagne Stakes over 1600 metres at Ellerslie his last start as a two-year-old and that's when we thought he might be a Derby type of horse."
Weather With You cost $27,000 as a yearling and races in the colours of Lindsay De Souza for whom Baker trained Turn Me Loose to win at Group I level in Australia and New Zealand.
Wednesday's race will be the furthest Weather For You has tackled in four starts to date and Baker said he is expecting the increase in distance to suit.
"He's always shown us he'll make a stayer and we'll find out more tomorrow," Baker.
"Of course he has to prove he's good enough but he's a staying horse who should come into his own the further he goes."
Luke Nolen will be aboard Weather With You, available at $7 with several wagering operators, in the Victoria Derby Trial.
