It's a long way from a Class One at Moonee Valley to a Group One classic. And it's a long time between now and May.

But it's head on the block time - I'm declaring Ausvetia the winner of the 2008 South Australian Derby.

I have been known at times to be outlandish, sometimes genius - but I'm thinking it's somewhere in between.

Boy I was impressed with Ausvetia tonight.

Described as a "big baby" by stable foreman Gerard Tesoriero, Ausvetia looks an exceptional staying talent.

He's bred to handle a Derby trip - being by former champion racehorse, cum kiwi shuttler Golan.

A visitor each spring to Nelson Schick's Windsor Park Stud, Golan shot to prominence this month when his son Kibbutz scored a dazzling win in the Group One Victoria Derby at Flemington.

Ausvetia looks exactly the kind of horse who can be a Kibbutz in his next preparation.

Tonight was the three-year-old was having just his fourth career start. The victory was his second.

He won at his previous outing when a dominant winner at Kyneton when ridden by James Winks.

Tonight it was Steven Arnold who had a winning mo-ment with Ausvetia.

A $52,500 yearling purchase at Karaka, Ausvetia hails from a top stakes winning family.

His half sister Cat in a Hat-Catreigh won the Toy Show Handicap at listed level in Sydney, while three of his other siblings are winners.

Dam New Victoria, a Colonel Collins mare who placed in England, is a half sister to four stakes performers including the Group Two winning sire Distinctly North.

Other members of his family include the international Group One winners Louis Quatorze, Royal Indy and Wildcat Heir.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ausvetia's name the next sporting the Gr.1 suffix on the pedigree page in six months time.

PICS - Greg Irvine.