Shamoline Warrior must battle rivals to hold Derby favourite tag

Shamoline Warrior has emerged as the favourite for the Victoria Derby two weeks before the $1.5 million race.

The group 1 race at Flemington will open Melbourne Cup week and is also expected to feature fellow star three-year-olds Extra Zero and Monaco Consul.

IASbet currently has Shamoline Warrior at odds of 5.50, ahead Extra Zero and Monaco Consul, both at 8.00.

Shamoline Warrior is also in the running for Saturday's group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes and has a battle on to remain at the top of the markets for the Derby with Saint Encosta expected to challenge.

Onemorenomore, also in the hunt for the Victoria Derby at 17.00 with IASbet, is also running in the Norman Robinson.

Shamoline Warrior, trained by Mark Kavanagh, emerged as a serious contender for the Derby with a win in the listed 1800m listed UCI Stakes earlier this month.

Quoted by AAP earlier this month, Kavanagh said: "He is coming good at the right time, I am pretty happy with the way he is going."

Monaco Consul achieved an upset by winning the Spring Champion Stakes earlier in October and is said to be a natural stayer whose win was no fluke.

Also in the frame for the Victoria Derby is the Danny O'Brien-trained Spacecraft, who impressed with a win in the Pura Light Star Plate.