Red Aces throws down Derby marker
Red Aces (Dundeel) surged in betting for what’s shaping as a classic edition of the VRC Derby after proving a missed run was no great handicap by winning the Moonee Valley’s Vase (Gr 2, 2040m).
The Nick Ryan-trained colt gave connections the luxury of earning a start in the Derby as a two-year-old, taking Flemington’s Bierley Handicap (1800m) in the final few days of last season.
But after two lead-up runs this preparation – the latter a fine second over the same course in the Super Impose Stakes (Listed, 1800m) – major trouble seemed to strike his Derby campaign when he was a late scratching from last Saturday’s Caulfield Classic (Gr 3, 2000m) after a barrier mishap.
One week later, however, Red Aces showed he was still on-song for Australia’s oldest feature with a highly professional win in the Vase.
Ridden to perfection by Jamie Mott, the $3.20 favourite travelled in the one-one, fought hard in the straight to beat off Opening Address (So You Think) to his inside, then lifted in a driving three-horse finish to earn his first stakes win by 0.25 lengths.
Opening Address (So You Think) held on for second, millimetres ahead of the fast-finishing King Of Thunder (Tivaci).
Though oft-maligned in recent years, the VRC Derby looks like assembling a crack field of three-year-olds this Saturday.
Anthony Cummings’ El Castello shot to $3.50 favouritism for his own quick back up after winning Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Godolphin star Broadsiding went to $4 after his superb third in the Cox Plate.
Red Aces is at $6 for the Flemington blue riband, with other recent winners Kingofwallstreet (Dundeel), Saint Emilion (Snitzel) and Keeneland (Almanzor) also prominent in the betting, along with King Of Thunder.
Ryan said last week’s barrier mishap for Red Aces might in fact have resulted in the ideal preparation towards the Derby.
“He had a really good gallop here Tuesday. I had to do a bit more with him Thursday, he’d come through that so well,” Ryan said.
“I actually rode him myself this morning. I had to give him a little whirl around because he’s so well.
“So I think last week, as unfortunate as it was, it could be a blessing in disguise. Seven-day back-up. Today’s the perfect gallop for next week.
“They had the chance to beat him then. He’s tough. He’s a good colt.”
Ryan is also confident going to the Derby on Red Aces’ home track.
“His record at Flemington of winning and a second, and the beauty is, he just has to walk over the road,” the trainer said. “It’s his home deck and we love playing on our home deck.
“Just exciting.”
Red Aces is in fact still among nominations for the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), though three runs in 11 days for a raw three-year-old would be Carbine-like stuff.
“We’ll get over the Vase today first,” Ryan said. “But he’s still in there [the Cup]. It wasn’t much to pay up the other day. You can keep the dream alive.”
Mott was at least “very confident” about the Derby, saying: “I think it’s his year for sure”.
“We’ve always been confident in his staying ability, and look at him, he’s a magnificent animal,” he said.
“Last week at Caulfield, he was really up and about, and I struggled to hold him down in the barriers, and he ended up kicking out, which was unfortunate.
“Lucky enough, he didn’t hurt himself today. He went to the barriers like an old pony, so I knew he was in a better spot today, and he needed the run because he got travelling a little keen throughout, which he’s never done before.
“Obviously he missed a run last week, so he was fresh and it was a good go for next week.”
Red Aces is the fourth winner from five runners for the winning mare Cardiac (Encosta De Lago), making him a half-sister Declarationofheart (Declaration Of War). Cardiac herself is a three-quarter sister to Listed winner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago) and a half-sister to VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) victor Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer), dam of another VRC Oaks winner in Miami Bound (Reliable Man).
Bought by Ryan for $380,000 from the Musk Creek Farm draft at Inglis Premier last year, Red Aces is the final foal of Cardiac, who died in October, 2022.
He’s the 32nd stakes winner for Dundeel, who’s standing for $88,000 (inc GST) at Arrowfield Stud in his 11th stud season.