Victoria Fiddick has played down her May 24 Half-Marathon Derby chances despite the absence of defending champion Ashley Estwanik who is unable to run as she’s pregnant.Fiddick finished runner-up behind perennial favourite Estwanik last year but believes next week’s female race will be a wide open affair, contested between herself, Jennifer Alen, Deon Breary and Karen Smith.“Ashley is so superior, I could train day and night and I would not be able to get her. You go into the race basically knowing you will be defeated,” said Fiddick.“There are a few girls who have shown that their race formula is as good, if not better than mine, so I certainly can’t take anything for granted.“Jenny (Alen), Deon (Breary) and Karen (Smith) have all beaten me in the past, so nothing’s a given in this year’s race.”The veteran Swede insists her preparations couldn’t have gone any better as she goes in pursuit of her second May 24 title. Earlier this year she ran one of her fastest half-marathons when she competed in New York City and feels in good shape for the upcoming race.“I did a good time last year and I’ve just done a great half-marathon overseas, so looking at my times I should produce a good race,” she said.“Everything’s been going really well, I’m happy with my training and my recent work-outs have been really good.“I’ve been putting in some solid times over the last few months and I don’t think I could have prepared any better for the race.”Fiddick believes she has worked out the winning formula for Tuesday’s race, but is keeping her strategy close to her chest.“On the day whoever prepares the best will win. I definitely have my own race strategy but I won’t let my opponents know that one,” she said.“You always need a plan, otherwise it would be like sitting in a car without a speedometer and road signs, you’d never know where you would end up.”