Red Aces Victoria Derby Bound

Mark Smith - Saturday July 20

A field of maiden 2-year-olds stretching out to 1800m for the first time in the Byerley Hcp at Flemington, which carried the carrot of a golden ticket to the Victoria Derby in November.

Looks promising (image Grant Courtney)

The Dundeel colt Red Aces had only one previous start, finishing third in a Seymour maiden over 1300m 0on July 2. Jamie Mott had Red Aces travelling sweetly midfield on the fence and needed to go around just one horse, hitting the line with gusto to defeat another son of Dundeel, Politely Dun, by three-quarters of a length.

There was merit in the effort of the runner-up. The son of  Group 1 Myer Classic winner Politeness was on one rein for most of the straight.

The top-weight Stay Silent (Deep Field) was honest again, adding third place to his third in the Listed Taj Rossi Final at Flemington.

Winning trainer Nick Ryan said the Victoria Derby had been the goal all along for Red Aces.

"We were originally going to go to a mile maiden on Monday at Seymour, but he came on so much from his first run," Ryan said.

He is a Dundeel alright (image Grant Courtney)

"We always thought we had a Derby colt. My stepfather JJ Gordon, purchased him as a staying type.

Advertisement

"He has taken a little while, but the penny has dropped. That's a big jump from 1300m to 1800m at his second start.
"I liked the way he knuckled down; his breeding probably kicked in over the last furlong, and we have a nice staying colt on our hands.     

Red Aces a $380,000 Inglis Premier yearling

"We've got 15 weeks (until the Victoria Derby), so we will put him away, but not for too long. He might be a bit of a Munhamek, a good-doing, gross colt."

A $380,000 purchase for his trainer from the Musk Creek Farm draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Red Aces is a half-brother to the Group III SAJC Chairman's Stakes winner Declarationofheart (Declaration Of War).

\Plenty to look forward to (image Grant Courtney)

He is the third winner from four to race for the winning Encosta De Lago mare Cardiac, a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Da Little Engine and a half to the VRC Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss (Dabnehill Dancer), whose daughter Miami Bound (Reliable Man) also won the VRC Oaks.

Red Aces is Cardiac's final foal. She died in October 2022.

Red Aces is the sixth 2-year-old winner of the season for Dundeel, who stands for $88,000 at Arrowfield Stud in 2026.

Advertisment

Race Result - Byerley Hcp 1800m

Flemington Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:53.17
1
Red Aces
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Cardiac (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: J Mott 57.5
2
0.8
Politely Dun
- 2g Dundeel (NZ) x Politeness (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 58
3
1.1
Stay Silent
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Paulita (USA) (Scat Daddy (USA))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: B Shinn 59
4
3.6
Suntora
- 2f Toronado (IRE) x Kansas Sunflower (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: Jye McNeil 55.5
5
4.3
Shadeelaa
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Whatadeel (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Declan Bates 56.5
6
4.6
Winston
- 2g Churchill (IRE) x Sonoma (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
7
6.1
Moana Kohala
- 2f Ocean Park (NZ) x Mawzoona (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Will Price 54
8
8.1
Evergrande
- 2g Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Hurry Harriet (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: Teodore Nugent 56.5
9
8.9
Cool Star
- 2f Stratum Star (AUS) x Cool Coco (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Tetyana Furdetska Rdr: C J Parish 54
More Reading...
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Cambridge Stud Celebrate Ceolwulf Victory
Homebred Ceolwulf’s successful defence of his Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) title ensured Cambridge Stud celebrated a top day at Randwick.
Magic Millions - The Book
The famous US sports journo, Red Smith, once proclaimed that : “writing is easy … I just sit down at my typewriter and open a vein”.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Red Aces Wins a Thrilling G2 Moonee Valley Vase
Scratched at the barriers seven days ago when kicking out in the Caulfield Classic, Red Aces was at his best behaviour in an action-packed Group II Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley.