Flemington’s Byerley Handicap for rising three-year-olds over 1800 metres almost produced the Victoria Derby winner last year, but the concept faces a test this Saturday.

The Byerley, a late-season two-year-old race originally run over 10 furlongs (2000m), was discontinued in 1992, a year after it was won by future SA Derby and Melbourne Cup hero Subzero.

It was revived in 2017 over the slightly shorter distance, with the winner earning ballot-free entry into the Victoria Derby or Oaks less than four months later.

It was always uncertain that a genuine contender for the long-distance spring classics would still be campaigning as a two-year-old in mid-July, and of the 90 youngsters to have run in the Byerley since its return, just 11 have returned to Flemington for the Derby or Oaks.

The standout is Johnny Get Angry, who ran second to Alcyone in the 2020 Byerley then won the Victoria Derby as a maiden $21 shot.

Last year the ill-fated Arcora went within three-quarters of a length of a Byerley/Derby double, running second to Observer as a $61 shot back at Flemington on November 1.

The Justify colt added further sheen to the Byerley form in his autumn campaign, running second in the Group 2 Autumn Classic then winning the Australian Cup Prelude.

He started a $2.40 favourite in the Tulloch Stakes, a recognised Australian Derby lead-up, but broke down fatally.

A year earlier, the 2024 Byerley proved a strong race, producing subsequent stakes winners Red Aces (Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase) and Suntora (listed Strutt Stakes). In fact, eight of the nine runners went on to win at three.

Owners and trainers may still need convincing, however. Just five two-year-olds are in Saturday’s field, led by the stakes-placed Ko Phangan and maiden winner Notified.