David Hayes remembers vividly the “special” feeling of training a Group One Victoria Derby (2,500m) winner for his legendary father Colin, and hopes Apulia can provide a similarly exhilarating moment for the family at Flemington on Saturday.

The first of Hayes’ two Victoria Derby wins came when Blevic was triumphant in 1994, and his sons Ben, Will and JD will look to add their name to the honour roll with family owned second favourite Apulia this weekend.

“I just know the thrill dad got when Blevic won. I trained him and he owned half with Robert Sangster,” said Hong Kong-based Hayes.

“I know how special it was to him. He trained many Derby winners and I have too, but to own one and have it trained by the boys would be a bit special.

“He’s bred to run the distance and I’d love to see my sons win the Derby, especially with a horse half-owned by the family.”

Hayes will be on course as the famous racing family looks to win the Victoria Derby for a remarkable eighth time, returning to Australia a week after watching his sons go ever so close to winning the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) with Mr Brightside.

While Mr Brightside went down to Hong Kong hero Romantic Warrior by the narrowest of margins, Ben, Will and JD still tasted success thanks to two-year-old Bold Bastille and Apulia, who tuned up for the Derby with victory in the Group Two Drummond Golf Vase (2,040m).

“We thought he won by a head. It was so painful to see the joy in the kids for the 30 seconds and then to lose. It was the worst photo I’ve been involved,” Hayes said of the Cox Plate result.

“The boys said a funny thing, that they know how good it feels to win a Cox Plate because they thought they did.

“But it was a great day, they won the biggest two-year-old race of the season [so far] and they won Derby lead up.

“I’ve decided to go back this weekend because Apulia is second favourite and he’s drawn well. I thought I’d go back if he won last Saturday, then I thought I’ll go back if pulls up well and draws well.”

The Victoria Derby is one of nine races the Jockey Club is simulcasting from Flemington on Saturday, with the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) and Empire Rose Stakes (1,600m) also at the elite level, while the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) and Group One Breeders’ Cup Classic (2,000m) will be televised from Santa Anita early on Sunday morning.

Trainer Bob Baffert chases a fifth Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt, sending out early favourite Arabian Knight.

The lightly raced Arabian Knight didn’t contest the US Triple Crown but he has impressed in his short career, which includes a victory in September’s Group One Pacific Classic Stakes (2,000m).

“He’s healthy, he’s working well,” said Baffert, who has three runner-up finishes in the Classic to go with his four wins. “There have been no hiccups.”

Auguste Rodin, winner of the Epsom and Irish derbies, Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel and brilliant five-year-old Mostahdaf headline the field for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.