Red Aces Wins a Thrilling G2 Moonee Valley Vase

Mark Smith - Saturday October 26

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.

Red Aces toughs it out (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Jamie Mott for Nick Ryan, the son of Red Aces rounded the home three wide and engaged in a bumping duel with Ethan Brown on Liam Howley’s So You Think gelding Opening Address. Red Aces defeated Opening Address by a long-head with a nose back to the Tivaci gelding King Of Thunder, who rocketed home.

Advertisement

“It's hard to top Perth with Ollie and Munhamek, but to be here on Cox Plate Day and successful and active on one of the biggest days and getting a Group Two win with a lovely colt heading towards a Derby, it's pretty good,” Nick Ryan said.

“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.

“I actually rode him myself this morning. I had to give him a little whirl around because he's so well.

“So that's what I mean by saying I think today's, or last week, as unfortunate as it was, it could be a blessing in disguise. Seven-day backup. 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 said Red Aces will press on to the Victoria Derby. In two starts at Flemington, he won over 1800m and was second in the Listed Super Impose Stakes.

“The beauty is, he just has to walk over the road. It's his home deck and we love playing on our home deck,” Ryan said.

Off to the Derby (image Grant Courtney)

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).

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 a $380,000 Inglis Premier yearling

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

Red Aces is the 32nd stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel.

Advertisment

Race Result - Drummond Golf Vase Gr2 2040m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(3) Time: 2:07.36
1
Red Aces
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Cardiac (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: J Mott 57
2
0.3
Opening Address
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Royal Welcome (GB) (Kingman (GB))
Tnr: Liam Howley Rdr: Ethan Brown 57
So You Think
3
0.3
King Of Thunder
- 3g Tivaci (AUS) x Sheezababe (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
4
3
Politely Dun
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Politeness (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 57
5
3.1
Autumnheat
- 3g Too Darn Hot (GB) x Autumn (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: E J Walsh 57
6
3.3
Peru
- 3g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Salamati (GER) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: Declan Bates 57
7
3.3
Vianarra
- 3c Shalaa (IRE) x Vinavion (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M J Dee 57
8
3.6
Purler Patch
- 3g Soul Patch (AUS) x Zapurler (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: Craig Williams 57
9
5.6
The Bantam
- 3c Hellbent (AUS) x Spirit Mania (AUS) (Lucky Owners (NZ))
Tnr: Brent Stanley Rdr: K Teetan 57
More Reading...
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Red Aces Victoria Derby Bound
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.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.