Derby ‘High’

[Chief Stipe]

David Payne’s dual Group 1-winning colt Ace High (Aus) (High Chaparral {Aus}) may appear on paper to have been slightly disappointing last start when sixth in the G1 Rosehill Guineas, beaten three lengths by D’Argento (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}), but as the superior staying colt of the field he will really appreciate being back on much firmer footing in the G1 Australian Derby (2400m) on Saturday and will surely look the winner at some stage. Training Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}) to success in the Derby in 2014, Payne has always indicated that Ace High is a better horse, and come Saturday Tye Angland will be ready to take full advantage of barrier two in the capacity 18 horse field.

Successful in the G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) two starts back before relegated to fourth in the G1 Rosehill Guineas after a protest, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s Vin De Dance (NZ) (Rock De Cambes {NZ}) will be aiming to give New Zealand-breds another win in the time-honoured Classic, having won eight of the last 11 running’s of the race.

Charging late when a narrow second to stablemate D’Argento in the Rosehill Guineas running the best final last 600m in the race, Tangled (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) not only has the form on the board to take the prize, having also finished second to Ace High in the G1 Spring Champion S., the colt’s dam is a winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks, who has produced two stakes winners over 2000m plus.

Beaten for the first time when third in the Rosehill Guineas, the Kris Lees-trained Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) is lining up for his sixth start in his first race campaign and with some luck in running, the gelding who is out of a three-quarter-sister G1 Brisbane Cup (3200m) winner Danestorm (Aus) (Danehill), should be in the finish.

Both coming into the race with similar form this time in, Levendi (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) and Astoria (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) who finished one-two in last Saturday’s G2 Tulloch S. (2000m) both look ready to run a very strong race and should be watched.

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