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Ace High

Ace High Leads 2018 Australian Derby Nominations

Lucy Henderson • February 13, 2018

Ace High Leads 2018 Australian Derby Nominations

David Payne’s Victoria Derby winning colt Ace High is the standout staying three-year-old among the Australian Derby 2018 nominations taken by Racing NSW this week.

Ace High

VRC Derby winner Ace High is a standout 2018 ATC Derby nominee for the Royal Randwick classic this autumn. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The official ‘The Championships’ nominations for all the major races taking place across the stellar two Saturdays in April closed on Monday, including those for the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

Held on Day 1, April 7, this autumn’s Australian Derby nominations attracted 155 entries, up 22 from this time last season.

All-in Australian Derby betting on the early hopefuls at bookies around the country are dominated by Payne’s High Chaparral colt Ace High, best known for his powerhouse spring that included successive Group 1 wins.

The first was at Royal Randwick in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before he successfully made the step-up in distance for his brilliant Flemington run on November 4 when taking out the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) by two lengths.

Ace High resumed on February 3 at Rosehill running in the too-short Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m), the genuine stayer set to improve on his fifth to Trapeze Artist in the sprint.

He heads towards the longer distance features now including the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on February 24 and the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 10.

Payne chases a second ATC Derby success following his 2014 win with Criterion who came off a lead-up win in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), another likely target for Ace High this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

The other best out of the spring’s Victoria Derby results nominated for a Sydney rematch in the ATC Derby are the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained runner-up Sully and third placegetter Astoria from the Godolphin stables.

Recent Australian Derby results have been dominated by the Kiwi raiders including a trio of victories by Murray Baker-trained gallopers: It’s A Dundeel (2013), Mongolian Khan (2015) and Jon Snow (2017).

Trainer Murray Baker has 5 ATC Derby nominees as he chases a fourth win in six years

This season Baker and co-trainer Andrew Forsman are in with five Australian Derby nominees, including the spring’s Geelong Classic winner Weather With You and Roc De Cambes gelding Vin De Dance.

Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir is yet to taste Australian Derby success and comes into the 2018 edition with seven entries led by Cliff’s Edge and Civil Disobedience.

Canford Cliffs colt Cliff’s Edge bypassed the VRC Derby in the spring after he was well-beaten running second in the lead-up to gun filly Aloisia in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).

He instead run a brave mid-field sixth to the fellow Weir-trained Tosen Stardom when only two lengths beaten in the open-age Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m).

Cliff’s Edge then proved his early autumn potential on February 3 at Caulfield taking out the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) first-up.

Stablemate Civil Disobedience also won his latest start on February 9 taking out the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) by an impressive two and three-quarter lengths.

Sydney’s Chris Waller is also eyeing a maiden ATC Derby success and has 13 nominations including Frankel colt Tangmere and Spring Champion Stakes second placegetter Tangled.

There are also 12 brave fillies among the Australian Derby nominations looking to join Shamrocker (2011) as the sole filly to salute since Research (1989).

The key fillies in the mix are Aaron Purcell’s Thousand Guineas – MV Vase winner Aloisia and the VRC Oaks runner-up Bring Me Roses.

The Australian Derby first acceptances are open until Tuesday March 13, 2018.

Check out the full Australian Derby 2018 nominations below before heading to Ladbrokes for all the best upcoming Group 1 autumn racing odds online.

2018 Australian Derby Nominations

Royal Randwick Racecourse – 07/04/2018

# Form (Last 10) Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp. Rating
1 x155111x5x ACE HIGH C 3 David Payne 108
2 – AERO DE PARIS (NZ) G 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott –
3 2x21x AGE OF FIRE C 3 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards –
4 – AGUA CALIENTE C 3 Anthony & Edward Cummings –
5 62 ALERO ROSSO (NZ) G 3 Henry Dwyer –
6 2x12x5116x ALOISIA (NZ) F 3 Aaron Purcell –
7 – ALPHA C 3 Michael Kent –
8 44138x AMEROCK C 3 Darren Weir –
9 3x4213145x ANIMALIA G 3 James Cummings –
10 5 ARKAMUN G 3 Tony McEvoy –
11 313 ARMED AND READY G 3 Mick Price –
12 356x5x ARMS RACE G 3 Kurt Goldman –
13 0x315533x3 ASTORIA C 3 James Cummings –
14 203x1618x ATARAXIA G 3 James Cummings –
15 8x73217x AUGUSTUS C 3 Chris Waller 65
16 – AZABOY (NZ) G 3 Richard Collett –
17 9x1x BABY BACK SHAK (NZ) G 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 62
18 8x494021x BASANITE C 3 Robbie Laing –
19 112x BELFAST C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
20 – BELLE DU NORD (NZ) F 3 Emma-Lee & David Browne –
21 8x142223x6 BLACK SAIL (NZ) C 3 Aaron Purcell –
22 433823x BOX ON COLLINS G 3 Tony McEvoy –
23 432102x BRING ME ROSES F 3 Tony McEvoy –
24 67x341x7x BULLET SHOT C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 62
25 15 BULLETSON G 3 Bjorn Baker 57
26 907x CAERUS G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
27 242251x60x CAPITAL GAIN G 3 Paul Butterworth –
28 8x211x CHILLY CHA CHA (NZ) F 3 Kris Lees 62
29 2227×22 CIRCOMO G 3 Anthony Freedman –
30 x433141131 CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE (NZ) C 3 Darren Weir –
31 1812126x1x CLIFF’S EDGE C 3 Darren Weir –
32 3235x21x CONDOR C 3 Paul Perry 67
33 22x5943x COOL DUDE AUSBRED C 3 Gerald Ryan –
34 728x COUTINHO G 3 Anthony Freedman –
35 6 CREEDENCE G 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig –
36 2x DANBANA C 3 Nigel Blackiston –
37 – DANZDANZDANCE F 3 Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs –
38 11x1x D’ARGENTO C 3 Chris Waller 75
39 7x DECROUX G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
40 00252x DELOS (NZ) G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
41 51x2x DELUDE G 3 Danny Williams 54
42 1x22545x4x ECLAIR SUNSHINE G 3 Phillip Stokes –
43 – ELGIN (NZ) G 3 Liam Howley –
44 2x11142x EMBELLISH (NZ) C 3 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards –
45 – ENDOWMENT (NZ) G 3 Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs –
46 17x425659x ESHTIRAAK G 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig –
47 49x44x1x EXCELSIOR C 3 Gwenda Markwell 60
48 – EXCLAIM C 3 Michael Kent –
49 – FLYING FEET C 3 Joseph Waldron –
50 15 FOLLOW ON G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 62
51 22310x FREE FLY TOO G 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig –
52 11x FURORE (NZ) G 3 Kris Lees 61
53 135x GODUNOV C 3 Gerald Ryan 62
54 – GRIFFIN (NZ) C 3 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards –
55 3x11x GRUNT (NZ) C 3 Mick Price –
56 – GUNDOWN C 3 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
57 36x111x HANG C 3 Ben Currie –
58 40x2x HEIR TO THE THRONE (NZ) G 3 Henry Dwyer –
59 23x HIGH ENERGY G 3 Darren Weir –
60 13x3x HIGH POWER C 3 Kris Lees 62
61 24131x HIGHER GROUND C 3 Chris Waller 72
62 5x12343x HIYAAM (NZ) F 3 Mick Price –
63 – HOTEL AMOUR G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
64 62×5613 HUANGSHAN G 3 Chris Waller 63
65 – IAGO (NZ) G 3 Graeme Rogerson –
66 6425x2170x ICON OF DUBAI C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden –
67 601608x INTO RIO (NZ) G 3 Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra –
68 – IRISH FLAME (NZ) G 3 John Wheeler –
69 – JOE’S LEGACY (NZ) G 3 Jason Price –
70 22300x JOHNNY VINKO (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
71 7 JUDICIOUS C 3 Michael Kent –
72 311x6x KAONIC (NZ) C 3 Chris Waller 72
73 11x KENTUCKY BREEZE G 3 Levi Kavanagh –
74 515 KUGELBLITZ (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
75 77x02x LADIES’ GEM G 3 John Sargent –
76 42150×2 LANGLEY G 3 John O’Shea –
77 – LENINGRAD C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
78 4×7 LET’S GO CHAMP C 3 Michael Costa –
79 1x1661x5 LEVENDI C 3 Peter Gelagotis –
80 2x LIVE AND FREE (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea –
81 1366×5 LORD CECIL G 3 Paul Messara 69
82 – LOVE WAVES (NZ) G 3 Anthony & Edward Cummings –
83 1776214x LUVALUVA (NZ) F 3 John Sargent –
84 8x3x MAGLEV C 3 Michael Kent –
85 145x4x MAHALANGUR (NZ) C 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 63
86 3x212135x MAIN STAGE (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
87 6x122x5x MEROVEE C 3 Chris Waller 72
88 066x8405x MISS ADMIRATION F 3 Mick Price –
89 – MISSION HILL C 3 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
90 – MONGOLIAN MARSHAL (NZ) C 3 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
91 – MONGOLIANCONQUEROR (NZ) G 3 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards –
92 133x MONTASER (NZ) C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
93 66x214x42 MR SO AND SO G 3 Anthony Freedman –
94 33x9152x3x MURAAQEB C 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig –
95 4x424x NERUDA G 3 Kristen Buchanan –
96 5x NORTH AFRIKA G 3 Peter & Paul Snowden –
97 – OKOTO F 3 Tony Pike –
98 5135 OPEN ROAD G 3 John Sargent 55
99 234x1225x2 OUR MANTRA G 3 Joseph Pride 70
100 611x PALAZZO VECCHIO F 3 Mick Price –
101 312×1 PEACEFUL STATE C 3 Darren Weir –
102 6x321227x PERSIAN EMPIRE (NZ) C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
103 6 PHARISEE G 3 Anthony & Edward Cummings –
104 05x751644x PISSARO C 3 Robbie Laing –
105 – PRETENTIOUS MAN G 3 Kristen Buchanan –
106 23x PRIMITIVO G 3 John P Thompson –
107 56×6 PURE HAWK G 3 Chris Waller –
108 12312x0x RANCHO MONTOYA C 3 Stuart Kendrick –
109 4146×4 RELLSON (NZ) G 3 Aaron Purcell –
110 – REMARKABLE SON (NZ) G 3 David Vandyke –
111 1x ROAD TO HEAVEN G 3 Kris Lees 56
112 422165x RUNAWAY R 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 67
113 – SACRED DAY (NZ) G 3 Tony Pike –
114 12x2273x SALSAMOR (NZ) C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
115 31x322487x SANCTIONED G 3 James Cummings –
116 76x SAVABORR (NZ) C 3 David Brideoake –
117 20x56104x SAVAHEAT (NZ) C 3 Darren Weir –
118 7x2x SAVVY KEN (NZ) C 3 David Brideoake –
119 – SCOTT BASE (NZ) G 3 Johno Benner –
120 – SECRET AMBITION (NZ) C 3 Bruce Wallace –
121 2x SINGA GLORY (NZ) G 3 Anthony & Edward Cummings –
122 7x1413x SKY BOY G 3 Anthony & Edward Cummings –
123 – SLICK BACK (NZ) G 3 Michael Kent -a
124 26x2x SMILING MANOLITO G 3 Chris Waller –
125 0x4x SO STRONG (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea –
126 31×5 SO YOU WIN G 3 Chris Waller 66
127 – SONDELON G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
128 – SPOTTO STATUS BOSS G 3 Richard Freedman –
129 – STARRYBEEL (NZ) C 3 Stephen Marsh –
130 23x11432x SULLY (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
131 742x TABLE MOUNTAIN G 3 Paul Messara –
132 100x94220x TANGLED C 3 Chris Waller –
133 74×1 TANGMERE (NZ) C 3 Chris Waller 66
134 85x61443x TERWILLIKER G 3 Anthony & Edward Cummings 61
135 353x THE KROC G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
136 – THE MAYOR (NZ) G 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott –
137 9x THUNDERZONE (NZ) G 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes –
138 – TIME LORD (NZ) G 3 Richard Collett –
139 – TREASURE (NZ) F 3 Tony Pike –
140 81x TRIPLE CHOICE G 3 Richard Freedman 56
141 – TRIPLICATE G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
142 121x3x TURNBERRY C 3 Kris Lees 63
143 49x431x162 VALIANT SPIRIT G 3 Daniel Williams –
144 0x0628433x VICTORY IS MINE G 3 Paula Cartledge –
145 12235x VIN DE DANCE (NZ) G 3 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
146 422x24718x WEATHER WITH YOU G 3 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
147 632x WEAVING MAGIC (NZ) F 3 John Sargent –
148 121x WETAKEMANHATTAN G 3 Matt Cumani –
149 725x3x WHOOMPH C 3 Leon & Troy Corstens –
150 3267x WOLFE TONE (NZ) C 3 Francis Finnegan –
151 712112 WOLFENDALE G 3 Darren Weir –
152 07x1x WON WON TOO (NZ) G 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig –
153 482x YOU GOT IT G 3 Leon & Troy Corstens –
154 79x973451x YURALLA BOY G 3 Todd Howlett 53
155 87x ZU MANTUA C 3 Kristen Buchanan –

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