Sydney-based trainer John O’Shea has travelled the breadth of Australia with his emerging three-year-old stayer Awesome John in a bid to win Saturday’s (8 April) Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m), which will be simulcast into Hong Kong from Perth in Western Australia.

Awesome John arrived in Perth on Monday night after a five-hour flight from Sydney and the trainer reports the gelded son of Awesome Rock coped well with the travel.

“He’s settled in very well. He’s a tough horse and nothing much bothers him,” said O’Shea of his three-year-old whose form took a major boost after Major Beel’s win in last Saturday’s G1 ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Awesome John finished less than a half length behind Major Beel when a last start third in the G2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on 25 March.

“Even before Major Beel’s Derby win, I felt the Tulloch (Stakes) form would be strong this year. It was the fastest 2000 metres race on the day; faster than the fillies in the Group 1 (Vinery Stud Stakes) and faster than the older horses in the Sellwood (Stakes).

“So we have a very fit horse coming out of a strong form race and he prefers good ground so this looks a nice race for him on Saturday,” O’Shea said.

Western Australia’s champion jockey William Pike, who has won the WATC Derby on ten occasions including seven times in the past ten years, has been engaged to ride Awesome John.

Awesome John faces seven locally-trained rivals headed by WATC Oaks-winning filly She’s Fit and her stablemate Another Chino, both trained by Daniel Morton who is best known for winning the 2009 G1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m), at Royal Ascot, with Scenic Blast.

Chris Parnham rides She’s Fit after he and Morton combined to win last year’s WATC Derby with Alaskan God, while Parnham’s brother Brad rides Another Chino who seeks a fourth straight win after his success in the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m), which is the traditional Derby lead-up race.

Brad and Chris’s brother Steven rides Demolish, runner-up to Another Chino at his past two runs, for their father Neville Parnham, who is hoping for a change of luck.

“I don’t think the 2400m will be a problem at all. He’s in great form and I’m sure he will make his presence felt,” Parnham senior said of Demolish.

Five fillies have won the WATC Derby in the past 20 years while no visiting horse, from the East of Australia, has won the race since David Hayes was successful with Chartreux in 2010.

James Oldring, Chief Executive Officer of Perth Racing, said his organisation was delighted to partner with the Hong Kong Jockey Club in this simulcast.

“It’s the first time the Derby has been simulcast into Hong Kong which is great for Perth racing. As we try to elevate Western Australian racing, to have Hong Kong taking the race is really important for us,” Oldring said.