Retrieve confirmed his favouritism for the $1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington in two weeks with a solid win in the Group Three Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield.Already proven in the ground with a win on a heavy track at Sandown three starts earlier, the Rahy colt started $2.10 favourite and, ridden by Mark Zahra, ploughed through the heavy going to beat Almindoro ($21) by a half-length with Digital Fortress ($11) a head away third."He gets through wet ground but he's much better on top

Retrieve confirmed his favouritism for the $1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington in two weeks with a solid win in the Group Three Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield.

Already proven in the ground with a win on a heavy track at Sandown three starts earlier, the Rahy colt started $2.10 favourite and, ridden by Mark Zahra, ploughed through the heavy going to beat Almindoro ($21) by a half-length with Digital Fortress ($11) a head away third.

"He gets through wet ground but he's much better on top of the ground. It was a good tough win," trainer Peter Snowden said.

Retrieve has been up for quite a while having had seven runs since early July.

After winning over 1500m at Sandown in August he won the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill and was second in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

"From his last start we had a month to put in before the Derby so I had him pretty well wound up for Randwick so it was in my mind that you can only get them so fit, so it was a little bit of marking time from there until today," Snowden said.

"For me that run will bring him along and I can start to get him back to his normal routine and head towards the Derby. It's very hard to do. They've got to have good fortitude and nice ability too to cope with all of this.

"He's coped with it well. He's a tough horse, he eats very well and he's won today, that's pleasing for me because I know I can get him fitter for two weeks time."

Zahra is unbeaten in two rides on Retrieve.

"He's a pleasure to ride, handles all conditions, jumps, travels and finds when you need to," he said.

"When I hit the front, he stargazed a bit, I thought Steven King (Almindoro) was going to come back at me but he found another half-length and that was all we needed.

"We had a perfect run, got into it at the right time. He's just such a lovely ride, he just switches off and picks up when he can.

"He'll be a great chance come the Derby I think."

King was delighted with the run of Almindoro, a Redoute's Choice gelding prepared by Steve Richards.

"We always thought he was a Derby horse and it looks like he'll run a strong mile-and-a-half (2400m)," he said.

The Tony Vasil-trained Altius was disappointing, settling back and finishing eighth of the 12 runners.

"He's a better horse than what he's showing now," jockey Damien Oliver said.

"He'll be better for a good break and come back a better horse in the autumn."

Stewards reported that New Zealand colt Mackadoo, who ran last, pulled up lame in the near foreleg.

Retrieve is now $2.60 favourite for the Victoria Derby (2500m) ahead of Almindoro at $7 with Digital Fortress, Smokin' Joey and Rekindled Interest, who was scratched from the Norman Robinson, at $9.