Hvasstan back on track Hvasstan (left) has drawn barrier seven in the field of 10 and will start next to It's A Dundeel in gate eight. Manny Gelagotis is hoping Hvasstan can make a dramatic improvement and win the Australian Derby at Randwick on Saturday. The Victorian failed to handle the Sydney way of going in the Rosehill Guineas, beat only one home and was 13 lengths from red-hot Derby favourite It's A Dundeel. A lot of horses would have gone home after the Rosehill Guineas," said Gelagotis, an owner of Hvasstan and the racing manager for his brother, Peter. We have left him [in Sydney for] two weeks and he actually thrived. He has been working well and based on his gallop [on Tuesday], he is right on track. Hvasstan drew barrier seven in the field of 10 and will start next to It's A Dundeel in gate eight. The Kiwi colt was trimmed from $1.50 to $1.25 favourite at TAB Sportsbet after the withdrawal on Monday of Victoria Derby and BMW Stakes winner Fiveandahalfstar. His withdrawal has left a Derby thin on chances, with Tulloch Stakes winner Philippi the second pick at $8 and Hippopus a $14 chance. Gelagotis believes Hvasstan, as a Norman Robinson Stakes and Alister Clark Stakes winner, is value at $16. I didn't subscribe that it was a two-horse race [between It's a Dundeel and Fiveandahalfstar], because I think my horse is right up with them. Gelagotis said it was hard not to be impressed by the favourite. "It's A Dundeel has been devastating this time in Sydney and you can't go past him," he said. "On what he has done, I don't think we can beat him, but racing isn't about what they have done and luck can come into it," he said. Solemn won the Geelong Classic but has been easily handled at his four runs in Sydney this autumn. "You would have to say he has been disappointing but ... he is bred to run at 2400 metres," Snowden said. Hopefully he will run it right out. Kingston Town was the shortest-priced Derby favourite at $1.22 when he won in 1980. It's A Dundeel's $1.25 on Tuesday was the same price Beau Zam started in his Derby win in 1988. TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie wasn't counting out It's A Dundeel starting shorter on Saturday. "He has beaten some very good horses in the Randwick Guineas and trounced them in the Rosehill Guineas," he said. Philippi, which is second favourite, beat the third-graders last week. Hvasstan didn't handle the Sydney way in the Rosehill Guineas and is the next in betting. Hippopus is only a midweek winner and was three lengths from Philippi on Saturday. So the $1.25 could be looked on as a gift by some punters.