The most likeable Ace High will head back to the scene of his biggest triumph after returning to the winner's circle in Saturday's Group II Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
The Victoria Derby hero kept up a relentless gallop under Tye Angland to defeat Last year's Doncaster Mile winner It's Somewhat (USA) (Dynaformer) by two lengths with the favourite Egg Tart (Sebring) a long-head back in third. (photos Steve Hart)
Winning trainer David Payne said the 4yo son of High Chaparral would now head south on a Cups campaign.
"The Caulfield Cup is his next start and then the Melbourne Cup," Payne told AAP.
"I was very impressed today. He's on target now. We've been waiting for the 2000 metres.
"He was coming away from them. It was a good effort and he even surprised me.
"I think he's at his top now so we'll just keep him ticking over."
Also, winner of the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes twelve months ago, Ace High advances his record to 5 wins and 3 seconds from 21 starts with earnings of $2,211,125.
A $130,000 purchase by his trainer from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Ace High carries the colours of John Cordina's Summertime Thoroughbreds.
He was bred by Bruce Reid Racing and is the best of three winners from Come Sunday, an unraced half-sister by Redoute's Choice to stakes-winners That's a Good Idea, Winner's Way and Kneeling out of the stakes-placed Sunday Silence mare Sunday Service.
Come Sunday died in October 2016.
