Polanski has emerged the big winner from Wednesday's Victoria Derby barrier draw, with gate one to give him an edge as trainer Robbie Laing vies for his first Classic.

Market leaders Complacent, Savvy Nature, and Criterion all drew double-digit barriers for Saturday's 2500m Derby at Flemington.

Laing proclaimed Polanski a certainty in the Norman Robinson Stakes which he duly won last start, and while he didn't go quite that far ahead of the Derby, he was certainly bullish.

"He's better in himself than he was in the Norman Robinson. He's drawn a better barrier and Complacent and Savvy Nature have drawn out.

"I've got no reason to be negative," Laing said.

The trainer insists the inside draw is a "super advantage" for Polanski and expects the colt to land in the box seat after having to work hard early from wide alleys at his past two winning starts.

He also has the services of Hugh Bowman who has won two of the past three Victoria Derbys.

"This horse has got good early speed, we can use him to lob second or third in the run and then he'll switch off," Laing said.

"He won't cover one inch of extra ground. And he's coming to his peak."

Polanski is yet to meet Complacent, Savvy Nature and Criterion and their Sydney spring form is widely considered to be the right reference heading to this year's Derby.

While Polanski firmed from $8.50 to $7.50, the three favourites drifted including Group One Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent who lost favouritism after drawing barrier 16.

Savvy Nature, winner of last Saturday's Vase at Moonee Valley, has barrier 13 and is TAB's fixed odds favourite at $4.60 but has been turned out from $4.20.

Complacent, one of three Peter Snowden-trained runners, was $4 pre-draw and drifted to $4.80.

Darley's Bloodstock manager Jason Walsh admitted Complacent's draw wasn't ideal but certainly not the end of the versatile three-year-old's chances.

"He's a high-quality animal and we think that that gate certainly doesn't render him incapable of winning the race," Walsh said.

John O'Shea, trainer of Savvy Nature, had hoped for an inside draw but took some comfort from a few of the other favoured runners drawing out.

They will come in two barriers if the emergencies, who drew nine and 10, come out.

"I think the key to this race is there's a long tail to it so we wouldn't want to be getting too far back," O'Shea said.

Last year's winning trainer Anthony Cummings has two chances to go back-to-back with Drago coming up with the outside gate and Thunder Fantasy drawing well in gate seven.