David Payne has big plans for his handy staying three-year-old Ace High who is on track for a shot at the 2017 Spring Champion Stakes and possibly the Victoria Derby later this prep after a good Gloaming Stakes win on Golden Rose Day.

Gloaming Stakes winner Ace High is onto the 2017 Spring Champion Stakes and possibly Melbourne’s VRC Derby. Photo: Steve Hart.

The well-bred son of High Chaparral came off back-to-back fifths, the latest behind Golden Rose hopeful Gold Standard in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, leading into today’s Group 3 $200,000 Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

Payne has been keen to get the black three-year-old out over the extra distance and was rewarded with the all-the-way Group 3 win on way to bigger and better things.

Jockey Tye Angland took up front running soon after the jump in the Gloaming Stakes and gave his galloper an aggressive ride in the lead, which Ace High responded to.

Also up on the pace were the filly Coral Coast and the well-fancied Godolphin galloper Sanctioned with Hugh Bowman aboard the last start Stan Fox Stakes runner-up.

At the 1000m, All Day came on from the back of the field right around them trying to challenge Ace High for the lead on the outside.

Ace High fought back up on the rails to hold his position and led the field into the straight.

Sanctioned was quickly on the scene off the cruising run throughout and was given every chance.

The James Cummings-trained youngster was simply outstayed in the end however as Ace High dug in for a good, tough, on-pace performance to hold off the challenger.

Rounding out the Gloaming Stakes trifecta in third was the Stuart Webb-trained filly Coral Coast who held on for a gutsy placing against the boys.

Looking rock hard fit fourth-up, Ace High fought off the horses that had had the cold runs in the race impressing Angland.

“When I got to the front, he really switched off,” Angland said.

“He responded well though and to his credit, my fella just kept fighting.

“It was a good, solid win.

“He’s pretty self-confident within himself, so this win should really bring him on.”

Payne was also pleased with what he saw from Ace High who will now back-up in a fortnight at Randwick Racecourse on October 7 in the Group 1 $500,000 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

“The plan all along was to get him to this race, this is where he shows his best,” Payne said.

All going well after that, Payne confirmed that the Group 1 $1.5 million AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington Racecourse on November 4 during the Melbourne Cup Carnival was also on the cards for Ace High.

“We’ll go to the Spring Champion Stakes and then if he comes through that all right we might think about the Derby in Victoria,” he said.

“He just keeps going…he’ll go three times around the track.”

The Gloaming Stakes has produced five of the past seven Spring Champion Stakes winners including most recently the Chris Waller-trained Vanbrugh who did the double in 2015.

To back Ace High next race and to access all the futures Group 1 racing odds for the spring, visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2017 Gloaming Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 6 – 23/09/2017