Former jockey David Payne celebrated his 107^th Group 1 win as a trainer with his progressive young stayer Ace High saluting for the punters at Royal Randwick in the Spring Champion Stakes 2017.

Ace High is favourite in 2017 Victoria Derby betting after winning Sydney’s Spring Champion Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

Coming off a lead-up in in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m), the well-bred son of High Chaparral ate-up the extra distance in the Group 1 $500,000 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

Jockey Tye Angland took the favourite straight to the front after Ace High jumped brilliantly from the barriers and in a superior staying effort, the horse lead all-the-way to the line.

Ace High held off a late challenge from the Chris Waller-trained Tangled who was flying late, right down in weight after a close fourth in last weekend’s Dulcify Quality under big kilos.

Snitzel colt Tangled ran on well for second from the back of the field, looking towards a run in the Group 1 $1.5 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in Melbourne on November 4, but gave too big a start to the winner.

Displaying a beautiful racing style, Ace High and Angland dictated terms to suit up front again in the Group 1 as they did in the Gloaming Stakes.

Giving a big kick upon straightening after getting the cheap early sectionals, he had enough left to hold off Tangled down the straight, who had found the rails, and kept finding for the fighting win having a head to spare on the line.

“We went forward again today,” Angland said post-win.

“He got a beautiful run in front. I thought I’d make it a bit of a staying test.”

Rounding out the Spring Champion Stakes trifecta in third showing a great improvement off the Gloaming Stakes fourth was the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Reliable Man gelding Sully.

His stablemates Main Stage and Johnny Vinko meanwhile ran first and third respectively earlier in the day at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes Day, putting their VRC Derby claims to the front in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m).

The Victoria Derby could also now call for the Spring Champion Stakes winner if Payne gets his way with connections.

“I think he’s going to be a better horse when he can follow something, but today we had to make it a staying race,” he said.

“Definitely a Derby horse.

“I’m keen [to go there]…he’s a good stayer.

“I’ve always loved him. He’s a lovely, big, strong horse.”

Updated Victoria Derby 2017 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Ace High as the $7 second favourite behind the aforementioned Main Stage ($6).

To back Ace High next race and to access the best early VRC Derby betting markets head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2017 Spring Champion Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 7 – 07/10/2017