DARLEY CLASSIC - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

* Group One, 1200m, $1 million, weight-for-age. Run at Flemington on Saturday, November 11, 4.10pm

HISTORY

* First run in 1960 as the Craven 'A' Stakes and won by Karina with numerous changes to the race name since

* A Group One since 1979, it switched from Derby Day to the last Cup-week meeting, Emirates Stakes Day, in 2007

* It's one of the major spring sprints and falls 15 days after the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley

* The 2010 Darley Classic was Black Caviar's first Group One win and eighth of 25 consecutive victories

NOTABLE WINNERS

* Vain (1969), Century (1973), Special (1988), Takeover Target (2004), Miss Andretti (2007), Black Caviar (2010, 2011) and Buffering (2013)

TALKING POINTS

* Redzel is the $3.90 favourite after his last-start win in the inaugural $10 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick

* The Manikato Stakes (1200m) is the traditional lead-up race with runner-up In Her Time and third placegetter Malaguerra progressing to Flemington

* Chautauqua was scratched at the barrier before the Manikato and will be looking to get his spring back on track

WHAT SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING

* "He's probably been flying under the radar for quite a while now but I think that win really cemented his place and this one could top it right off if he could pick this one up" - Redzel's co-trainer Peter Snowden on the possibility of the first Everest-Darley double

* "To be scratched at the gates, it's not over until it's over, so it'll be good to see him jump out of the gates cleanly. To think Chautauqua's never won a race over Cup week is probably a bit strange so it'll be nice to get one of them on the board" - Chautauqua's co-trainer Wayne Hawkes on the grey gelding

* "I hate comparing different eras but as far as sprinters go, and I don't know what his distance is yet, but as a sprinter I think he can be in for a great 12 months. He's got to continue to do it but he's got the makings of a multiple Group One winner" - Trainer Tom Dabernig on Vega Magic