Derby hopefuls prepare well

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman got the answers they were looking for on Saturday.

The Cambridge trainers were well-satisfied by the performances of their Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) contenders Vin De Dance and Mission Hill in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), although disappointed with the post-race verdict on the former.

Vin De Dance finished runnerup behind the Chris Wallerprepared D’Argento, only to be relegated to fourth with jockey Jason Waddell copping a sixmeeting suspension for causing interference in the straight.

He will return in time for the ride in the Derby on Saturday week. ‘‘I was quite surprised they overturned it, but what can you do?’’ Forsman said. ‘‘That aside, we were rapt with both horses.

‘‘When you go over there you never really know how they’re going to measure up and they were both good and they’ve come through it well.’’

Vin De Dance raced close to the speed from an inside gate and fought on gallantly in the run home while Mission Hill finished solidly from back in the field to run seventh under rider Damian Lane. ‘‘He was really good, Damian said he got caught a bit flat-footed and got home well the last bit,’’ Forsman said.

The stable promises to have a strong Derby hand with Mongolian Marshal, who failed to get a start off the ballot in the Rosehill Guineas, and Weather With You to run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes.

‘‘They’re both fit and well,’’ Forsman said. Mongolian Marshall has won his last two starts at Avondale and Ellerslie while Weather With You finished fifth over a mile at Warwick Farm at his most recent outing.