BABY CHAMPION, who won the Derby with 50kg last year, carried just 3kg more today but managed only a distant fourth this time around.

And it was another bottom-weight HUMPHREY who carried off the prize with a head-victory over the topweight OPPOSING FORCE. Newly-promoted TIGER IN THE WOODS (5 br.a.g Greig - Postette by Top Post) finished third.

After the race, both winning jockey V Sivan and trainer Richard Lines attributed the win to the 9kg difference in the handicapped weight and paid high respect to the runner-up who they said ran a magnificent race despite the disadvantage.

Lines used to train OPPOSING FORCE until two starts ago and won two Perak Derbys, a MRA Cup and a Sprint Trophy with the Jetball seven-year-old. OPPOSING FORCE went on to win the Selangor Gold Cup (1,600m) under trainer Tiang Kim Choi last start.

But Lines had the last laugh in the Perak Derby today when the improving HUMPHREY (5 b.a.g Encosta De Lago - Take The Offer by Twig Moss) outstaged OPPOSING FORCE after a thrilling tussle in the straight.

HUMPHREY, finished second in the Astro Wah Lai Toi Charity Cup (2,000m) and the Anniversary Cup (1,700m) before beating one home in the Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup (2,200m) at the tailend of last year.

But Lines said in a TV interview before the race that the 2,400m trip should suit his style of running.