Eight years after Rebel Raider won the South Australian Derby, his trainer is looking to repeat the feat with one of his sons.

Rebel Raider was a 100-1 winner of the 2008 Victoria Derby for Leon Macdonald and long-time client Harry Perks and started favourite in his home town of Adelaide the following autumn.

Macdonald, who is now in partnership with Andrew Gluyas, trains many of Rebel Raider's progeny including Waging War who will be ridden by stable jockey Clare Lindop in Saturday's 2500m Classic.

Lindop was also the the rider of Rebel Raider at both Flemington and Morphettville.

"I think I've had 14 winners with Rebel Raider's progeny this season," Macdonald said.

"They were always going to take time and they are stayers.

"Waging War has come a long way. He won his maiden at Balaklava in November and he's won three races since.

"This is another step but I don't think he'll have any trouble with the 2500 metres."

Macdonald's other runner in Saturday's race also has a family connection to another of his famous Derby winners, Gold Guru.

In 1998, Gold Guru beat Sydney's favourite horse Tie The Knot to win the Australian Derby and Gun Guru steps out as an outsider at Morphettville.

"Gun Guru's mother Glory Guru is a daughter of Gold Guru's mother Proud Halo,: Macdonald said.

"Gun Guru shows he is a stayer but his last win was at Balaklava and this is a big leap."

Waging War is a $14 chance in the Derby with Gun Guru at $51.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Odeon is the $3.30 favourite after three wins and a close second from his past four starts.

The Darren Weir-trained Rockstar Rebel, another son of Rebel Raider, is the first emergency.