The Expressway Stakes 2018 field features just eight runners at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and the inside draw belongs to returning VRC Derby champion Ace High.

Returning VRC Derby champ Ace High jumps from barrier one of eight first-up in Saturday’s Expressway Stakes 2018 field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Undefeated in his final three runs of the spring, the David Payne-trained High Chaparral colt Ace High kicks off his Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign this weekend in the weight-for-age Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m).

Last seen securing his second elite level win in Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 4, Ace High is likely to find Saturday’s sprint race too short.

It is a nice race to kick things off in however as Payne plans to take Ace High through the traditional three-year-old staying races including potentially a grand final run during April’s ‘The Championships’ in the ATC Derby.

Also drawn favourably is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour, a likely favourite in Expressway Stakes betting second-up.

As a three-year-old the daughter of Star Witness enjoyed the Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas interstate mile double.

The now four-year-old hasn’t been first past the post since her Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) success at Caulfield last October.

Last time out Global Glamour ran a first-up sixth in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m) race at the Gold Coast on January 13.

She carted a hefty 60.5kg that run so will relish comping back to 56.5kg on Saturday with Kerrin McEvoy aboard from barrier three.

Coming off a lead-up win and drawn one wider in gate four is the progressive Jason Coyle-trained Time Thief mare Memes.

The up-and-coming four-year-old saluted in the Summer Sprint (1000m) at Randwick first-up on January 20.

She gets the chance to prove herself in tougher company on the weekend with apprentice Rachel King continuing her association.

Another standout returning runner in this autumn’s diminutive but classy Expressway Stakes field is the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist in barrier six.

Tim Clark partners the three-year-old Snitzel colt who scored an all-the-way upset winning the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) as a long-shot roughie by over four lengths at the Rosehill track back in September.

Trapeze Artist raced again down the famous Flemington straight during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but failed to match it with the sprinters in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last time out.

Showing he had come through his break well, Trapeze Artist trialled at Rosehill on January 22 and enjoyed a 900m winning hit-out that also featured Redzel and Winx.

See below for the full Expressway Stakes 2018 field and barriers before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for the top weekend racing odds.

2018 Expressway Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Rosehill Race 7 (4:25pm) – 03/02/2018