Last season’s Victoria Derby winner Ace High sits at the top of the list of 155 nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $2m Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on day one of The Championships on April 7.
Ace High, above is among the nominations for the 2018 Australian Derby at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The David Payne trained Ace High was dominant during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick and then went on to claim victory in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Ace High has had one run back from a spell for a first up fifth to Trapeze Artist in the Group 2 $200,000 Sydney Markets Limited Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 3 and Payne said that he would take an Autumn Carnival path that could end up with the Australian Derby.
“Ace High will go to the Hobartville Stakes next, then the Randwick Guineas and the Rosehill Guineas,’’ Payne said.
“We then have to decide whether to run him in the (Australian) Derby or the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. I don’t think you can run in both as there is only seven days between them. If Winx doesn’t go to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, then we would have to target that race. If Winx is running, then we will concentrate on the Derby.’’
Victoria Derby runner up Sully is one of ten three year olds from the Cranbourne stables of former New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young nominated for the 2018 Australian Derby.
Godolphin’s Australian trainer James Cummings has nominated Victoria Derby third placegetter Astoria along with Animalia, Ataraxia and Sanctioned.
Sydney’s premiership winning trainer Chris Waller has nominated eleven three year olds for the Australian Derby with the promising D’Argento heading up the strong contingent of emerging young stayers.
The Aaron Purcell trained Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia is one of twelve fillies nominated for the 2018 Australian Derby.
First acceptances for the Australian Derby will be taken on Tuesday March 13 with the final field being released on Tuesday April 3, 2018.
Nominations for the 2018 Australian Derby (2400m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x155111x5x | ACE HIGH | C | 3 | David Payne |
| 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 |
| 16 | – | AZABOY (NZ) | G | 3 | Richard Collett |
| 17 | 9x1x | BABY BACK SHAK (NZ) | G | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 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 |
| 25 | 15 | BULLETSON | G | 3 | Bjorn Baker |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 48 | – | EXCLAIM | C | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 49 | – | FLYING FEET | C | 3 | Joseph Waldron |
| 50 | 15 | FOLLOW ON | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 51 | 22310x | FREE FLY TOO | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 52 | 11x | FURORE (NZ) | G | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 53 | 135x | GODUNOV | C | 3 | Gerald Ryan |
| 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 |
| 61 | 24131x | HIGHER GROUND | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 86 | 3x212135x | MAIN STAGE (NZ) | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 87 | 6x122x5x | MEROVEE | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 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 |
| 99 | 234x1225x2 | OUR MANTRA | G | 3 | Joseph Pride |
| 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 |
| 112 | 422165x | RUNAWAY | R | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 134 | 85x61443x | TERWILLIKER | G | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 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 |
| 141 | – | TRIPLICATE | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 142 | 121x3x | TURNBERRY | C | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 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 |
| 155 | 87x | ZU MANTUA | C | 3 | Kristen Buchanan |
