The favourite in Victoria Derby 2017 betting saluted for the punters on Day 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a tough and in the end very impressive victory by the David Payne-trained Ace High.
There were a handful of genuine three-year-old staying types battling it out for top spot in a wide open market on this season’s Group 1 $1.5 million AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington Racecourse.
After a tough win in Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and what looked a favourable barrier three draw, Ace High jumped the $7 narrow top fancy.
Jockey Tye Angland however got pushed out three deep when the shuffle-up came and was forced to travel wide the entire race.
Johnny Vinko led the VRC Derby field around until the 1700m where the Spring Champion and Ladbrokes Classic runner-up Tangled moved up off the rails on the outside to hit the front.
Midrace the Geelong Classic winner Weather With You whipped up and took the lead from Sully who was caught wide getting into second off at the 1200m.
Ace High meanwhile was travelling midfield and deep, Angland just letting the horse roll along and trying to save him for finish.
Having gotten into the unfavourable position, Ace High travelled three deep around the big Flemington bend and showed incredible staying ability to put himself back into the race and close hard.
The Hugh Bowman-ridden Spring Champion Stakes third placegetter from the stables of Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Sully reached the leader at the 300m before the late runners came on from the back.
Ace High was finishing off best and at the 150m took the lead and stormed home for a two length victory over Sully, while the James Cummings-trained Astoria rounded out the Victoria Derby trifecta in third.
“It’s obviously a huge thrill,” Angland said post-win.
“But I was thinking, man I’m in trouble where I am around the 1000m – 800m.
“Just the pace of the race, in a bunched field when they steadied up.
“I had to count and wait and let him roll into it, just try and hold him for as long as I could.”
Payne celebrated his incredible 108 Group 1 win as a trainer, but his first at Headquarters, and was thrilled with the Victoria Derby results.
“It’s always been my dream to win one here…let’s hope it continues,” he said.
“It’s taken a while but it’s worked out…we’ve planned this about six months and it just fell into place, everything.
“We looked at his pedigree and we were lucky we got him at the Magic Millions…I think we got him at a very good price.”
When queried about how he thought the horse was travelling in the race, Payne said he was pleased Angland had ridden him quietly off the pace even if it had ended with Ace High having to do the work out wide.
“I’ve always wanted to ride him back [off the speed], he looks a better horse ridden quietly,” he said.
Ace High pulled up so well after the 2500m of the Derby that questions over a possible return next November for the Group 1 $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) arose.
“Let’s hope so,” Payne said of a potential 2018 Melbourne Cup bid with Ace High.
“I would love to win that!”
Check out the full VRC Derby 2017 Results & Finishing Order below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the latest odds on this year’s Melbourne Cup horses.
2017 Victoria Derby Results & Finishing Order
Flemington Race 7 – 04/11/2017
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | ACE HIGH | David Payne | Tye Angland | – | 3 | 55.5kg | $7F |
2 | 6 | SULLY (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Hugh Bowman | 2L | 14 | 55.5kg | $7.50 |
3 | 3 | ASTORIA | James Cummings | Damian Lane | 2.2L | 1 | 55.5kg | $8 |
4 | 9 | PISSARO | Robbie Laing | Noel Callow | 2.7L | 9 | 55.5kg | $51 |
5 | 5 | MAIN STAGE (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Michael Walker | 2.8L | 13 | 55.5kg | $12 |
6 | 8 | ABERRO | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham | 3.55L | 12 | 55.5kg | $41 |
7 | 16 | WOLFE TONE (NZ) | Francis Finnegan | Jye McNeil | 3.75L | 16 | 55.5kg | $201 |
8 | 7 | WEATHER WITH YOU | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Mark Zahra | 3.95L | 2 | 55.5kg | $7.50 |
9 | 4 | ESHTIRAAK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.45L | 5 | 55.5kg | $12 |
10 | 11 | OCEAN’S FOURTEEN (NZ) | Aaron Purcell | Luke Nolen | 4.55L | 6 | 55.5kg | $12 |
11 | 2 | TANGLED | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 5.3L | 10 | 55.5kg | $8 |
12 | 15 | ROCKARRAL | Tony McEvoy | John Allen | 5.5L | 7 | 55.5kg | $61 |
13 | 12 | GREYCLIFFE (NZ) | Matt Cumani | Jordan Childs | 5.7L | 8 | 55.5kg | $11 |
14 | 14 | NOTHING TOO HARD | Paul Perry | Beau Mertens (a) | 6.45L | 11 | 55.5kg | $101 |
15 | 10 | JUSTICE FAITH | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Craig Williams | 7.95L | 15 | 55.5kg | $61 |
16 | 13 | JOHNNY VINKO (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Stephen Baster | 8.15L | 4 | 55.5kg | $41 |
– | 17e | BEACHWOOD (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | – | 0 | – | – |