Victoria Derby winner Ace High sits at the top of the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $2m Harrolds Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on day one of The Championships on Saturday.

Ace High, above, heads up the final field for the 2018 Australian Derby at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Ace High, above, heads up the final field for the 2018 Australian Derby at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Regular rider Tye Angland takes the mount again on the David Payne trained Ace High who was a last start sixth to D’Argento in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24.

The final field of eighteen three-years-olds plus two emergencies was released by the Australian Turf Club this morning with the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards trainer Mongolianconqueror one of six Kiwis among the final acceptors.

Co-trainer Jamie Richards said that Mongolianconqueror would be at his best on a good rated track and he was happy with the way he went through his paces at the ‘Breakfast With The Stars’ at Randwick this morning.

“He wasn’t out there to do too much because he’s had a long campaign. He’s a top of the ground horse, he doesn’t have the brilliance that Gingernuts has but he stick to the task well,” Richards told Racing New South Wales News Desk.

“His form at home is better on top of the ground so the forecast suits us. He’ll go to the beach in the morning, he might do a bit of three-quarter on Thursday.’’

Opie Bosson is back aboard Mongolianconqueror after riding the gelding last start when eighth to D’Argento in the Rosehill Guineas.

At his previous start Mongolianconqueror proved that he could run the Australian Derby distance of 2400m after finishing a nose second to the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Vin De Dance in the Group 1 NZ$1m NZ Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in New Zealand on March 3.

Vin De Dance is one of four three-year-olds that Baker and Forsman will saddle up in the Australian Derby, and will be joined by Weather With You, Mission Hill and Mongolian Marshall.

Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs will saddle up the Savabeel gelding Endowment who is coming off a last start sixteenth to D’Argento in the Rosehill Guineas.

The Peter Gelagotis trained Levendi and James Cummings’ Astoria are both in the final field for the Australian Derby and will clash again after finishing first and second in last Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Tricolours Racing & Syndications Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

Final field for 2018 Australian Derby (2400m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 55111×5546 ACE HIGH David Payne Tye Angland 2 56.5kg
2 2235×46314 VIN DE DANCE (NZ) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Jason Waddell 4 56.5kg
3 x94220x602 TANGLED Chris Waller Michael Walker 10 56.5kg
4 921×132728 MONGOLIANCONQUEROR (NZ) Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards Opie Bosson 6 56.5kg
5 2251×60090 CAPITAL GAIN Paul Butterworth Ben Melham 14 56.5kg
6 x1661x5021 LEVENDI Peter Gelagotis Mark Zahra 3 56.5kg
7 15533×3242 ASTORIA James Cummings Glyn Schofield 5 56.5kg
8 11113 FURORE (NZ) Kris Lees Brenton Avdulla 8 56.5kg
9 2x2273x294 SALSAMOR (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Zac Purton 19 56.5kg
10 x24718x553 WEATHER WITH YOU Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Jason Collett 1 56.5kg
11 141640 THE LORD MAYOR (NZ) Chris Waller 18 56.5kg
12 211×11567 MISSION HILL Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Damian Lane 9 56.5kg
13 1324850 ENDOWMENT (NZ) Chris Gibbs Damien Oliver 16 56.5kg
14 112435 BELFAST Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Kerrin McEvoy 17 56.5kg
15 3742114 MONGOLIAN MARSHAL (NZ) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Craig Williams 20 56.5kg
16 212135×400 MAIN STAGE (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 12 56.5kg
17 3235×21280 CONDOR Paul Perry Craig Newitt 15 56.5kg
18 1644×04950 PISSARO Robbie Laing 13 56.5kg
19e x973451319 YURALLA BOY Todd Howlett 7 56.5kg
20e 2210 LOVE WAVES (NZ) Anthony & Edward Cummings 11 56.5kg

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.