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.
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).
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.com.au 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 | – |
