It’s a massive double-header for middle-aged moaners this Saturday — the Victoria Derby and Halloween.

Our kids’ enthusiasm for the imported “holiday” on October 31 is a source of exasperation on par with January hot cross buns, October Christmas decorations and Black Friday.

Potting the derby is a similarly time-honoured custom. For some it’s too long, too early in the season or both.

The debate has gained urgency this year with the Asian Racing Federation taking over the grading of Australian black type from the dysfunctional Australian pattern committee.

The ARF pattern committee, whose decisions so far suggest its members don’t have the foggiest idea about Australian racing, has placed the derby on a watchlist, under threat of a downgrade to Group 2.

So serious is the situation that reports suggest we could be watching our last 2500-metre Victoria Derby this Saturday.

That idea seems slightly hair-on-fire given that 10 of the past 20 Victoria Derby winners have gone on to win at least one more Group 1 race. The equivalent figure for the (ATC) Australian Derby is seven.

(That’s not a fair comparison given their calendar positions, but you could find a dozen Australian Group 1s with worse recent honour rolls than the Victoria Derby. Looking at you, Tatt’s Tiara.)

The derby debate divides opinion among trainers. Danny O’Brien says the race “should've been 2000 metres 10 years ago, 20 years ago”. Gai Waterhouse has called the shortening push “crazy”.

Given the derby’s 99 problems it might seem odd that for owners and (many) trainers it remains as popular as Slow Horses and the late Dolly Parton put together.

With a capacity field of 16, it has attracted 16 or more acceptors in 15 of the past 16 years. Last week’s Spring Champion (2000m) drew nine.