The famous Carbine colours – black, white sleeves and a red cap – are one of the most legendary sets in Australian racing, worn by the 1890 winner of the Melbourne Cup and the great Cox Plate winning galloper from a century later, Super Impose.

It's long odds against the Anthony Freedman-trained galloper Tavistock Abbey, who also sports the famous silks, reaching those illustrious heights.

But the three-year-old son of New Zealand stallion Tavistock might achieve something those two superstar horses couldn't, by putting his name on the honour roll of the Victoria Derby.

The gelding showed plenty of fight for rider Luke Currie to wear down rival Main Stage on the line after a battle in the closing stages of the 1800-metre Victoria Derby trial, putting himself right in the mix for the 2500-metre classic.

Freedman knows the colours well, having been part of the training team headed by his brother Lee when they handled Super Impose. 

Tavistock Abbey carries them because one of his owners, John Newton, was also a part-owner of Super Impose.

"His family own the colours and he asked if he could use them when he came into the horse. It took a while to get everyone to agree, but I think everyone is happy now," Freedman said.

"The derby is the obvious way to go. He wasn't as dominant as he was at Bendigo [where he broke his duck in a 1600-metre maiden last time out], but he will improve.

"We will just plot a course through to the derby and if we are happy with him on derby day we will run. If it comes a bit quick for him we might wait for the autumn."

While Tavistock Abbey had to get his head down and graft, the Gai Waterhouse-trained filly Pinot was far too good for her rivals in the Kennedy Oaks Trial run over the same course and distance.

The daughter of Pierro showed a nice turn of foot to sprint away from her rivals and the fact that she is out of an Oaks winner – Dizelle – suggests the 2500-metre trip of the VRC Oaks will not be a problem.

The key to the win, jockey Stephen Baster said, was the removal of the blinkers she wore at an earlier start.

"She's always been a really nice filly but a lot's gone wrong with her," Baster said. "Then we put the blinkers on her to get her going, then she wanted to lay in and lay out, and the other day [when she ran second at Bendigo] I thought she just overdid it a bit.

"I suggested we just take the shades off and let her relax a bit and today she was good. When she eventually got the run she really launched to the line, so I think she's quite a good filly. There's a bit of improvement yet. Look at her breeding, it's what she's made for – Gai will be happy."

It wasn't a memorable afternoon for the owners of the great Black Caviar, who also own the champion mare's first foal, three-year-old filly Oscietra.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel was fancied to follow-up her win in a Geelong maiden in the RSVP'D Handicap over 1000 metres of the Flemington straight.

She broke well and was quickly into her stride at the head of the field, but after leading for 600 metres she capitulated quickly and finished out of the placings.

Trainer David Hayes said it was a disappointing effort, but added she was still weak and unfurnished and would now be given a spell to develop during spring.