Connections of the front running Ace High have advised Racing Victoria Stewards that the three year old will take a sit behind the leaders in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington today.
Ace High, above, will try to take a sit in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
The David Payne trained Ace High has won from the front at his two starts with victories in the Group 3 $200,000 James Boag’s Premium Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 23 and in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 7.
Racing Victoria Stewards released the following statement on tweeter saying that Ace High would try to be ridden behind the leaders.
“Change of Tactics: 04-11-2017 Flemington R7 – No.1 Ace High – attempt to ride with cover (first five),” Racing Victoria Stewards tweeted.
Ladbrokes.com.au have Ace High as the $7 equal favourite for the Victoria Derby with Main Stage just ahead of the Chris Waller trained Tangled at $7.50.
Payne has a high opinion of Ace High and agrees with the bookies’ that the High Chaparral colt will be hard to beat.
“He (Ace High) is one of the better ones I’ve trained. He is not as sharp as Criterion was, but he has got a bit of class about him,” Payne told the Herald Sun.
“We think we have a very big chance all going well, but you have got to have the luck on the day. If we have the run we want, he is going to be very competitive.”
Tye Angland has been aboard Ace High for his last two wins and should have no trouble restraining him in the run to the first turn and let something come across from a wide barrier and take up the running.
One of those could be Sully after co-trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young informed Stewards that they will be instructing Hugh Bowman to push forward in the early stages from barrier fourteen in the sixteen horse Victoria Derby field.
“Change of Tactics: 04-11-2017 Flemington R7 – No.6 Sully – if begins well will go forward,” Racing Victoria Stewards tweeted.
