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Derby countdown begins for Red Aces

Red Aces has earned a ballot exemption for the Victoria Derby with his victory at Flemington.

RED ACES winning the Byerley Handicap at Flemington in Australia.
RED ACES winning the Byerley Handicap at Flemington in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

The countdown to the Group 1 Victoria Derby has begun for trainer Nick Ryan  after the victory of Red Aces at Flemington

Success in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) on Saturday provides the Ryan-trained colt a ballot exemption into the Derby at Flemington on November 2. 

With 15 weeks between Saturday's victory and the Derby over 2500m, Ryan can plan the perfect program for the colt. 

Ridden by Jamie Mott, Red Aces ($6.50) scored a three-quarter length win over the $2.80 favourite Politely Dun with Stay Silent ($3.20) a half-neck away third. 

Ryan said he could now plan a similar path to the one taken by Hitotsu who was third-up into the Derby when successful in 2021. 

"It's 15 weeks to the Derby, so I've already thought about it," Ryan said. 

"We'll put him away now, but not for too long. He's a good doing, gross colt, but it's something to think about. 

"We've got the pleasure to now concentrate on one race. He's in it and we can do what we want through to the Grand Final." 

Ryan has long thought of Red Aces as a potential Derby colt after being purchased as a yearling. 

Red Aces finished third over 1300m at Seymour on debut before jumping to 1800m on Saturday. 

"My stepfather Jeff Gordon purchased him as a staying type and he's taken a little while, but the penny has really dropped," Ryan said. 

"It's a big jump from 1300 metres to 1800 metres at his second start, but I just liked the way he knuckled down and his breeding kicked in over the last furlong. 

"We've colt a nice staying colt on our hands. 

"We galloped him on Tuesday and with the small noms, it was a no-brainer to come here, being its our home track and we could walk him over the road. 

"He was aided by a brilliant ride. He did no work but there is a lot of improvement in him. 

"It's exciting." 


Racing and Sports



Flemington Saturday, 20th July 2024

1m209y TURF SOFT
AUD $150,000

Byerley Handicap

AUD $150,000
Age: 2yo Type: OPEN
1m209y TURF SOFT
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. RED ACES (AUS) 2yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - CARDIAC (AUS)
JAMIE MOTT
NICK RYAN
$6.5
57.5kg
D P Cavallo, N R Ryan, Ms C M Egan, D McGoldrick, G Williams, K J Johnson, J Cole, D Mercuri, Ms A Gaynor, G R Dawson, B W Grimley, C L Gould, M S McGoldrick, B P Carson, S Pettiona, Jack And Ace (Mgr: R Smykowsky), Love Bloodstock (Mgr: Mrs J Love), Blue Healer, The Fighting Cowboys & Macgould

Sales Information

2nd 2. POLITELY DUN (AUS) 2yo G
DUNDEEL (NZ) - POLITENESS (AUS)
DAMIAN LANE
DANNY O'BRIEN
$2.75
58kg
P Ganci, Three Three Five Six Racing, M Davidson, Bearman Racing, A Bright Idea, B Fowler, Turker's Lurkers, Team Hit Racing, Sunny Coast Mates, S Kyriazis, Killarney, Fat's Back Racing, Dunpunting, B Shipton, No More Ponies, D Cremasco, S Ganci, D Mullen, J Huggett & S Payne

Sales Information

3rd 1. STAY SILENT (AUS) 2yo C
DEEP FIELD (AUS) - PAULITA (USA)
BLAKE SHINN
Leon & Troy Corstens
$3
59kg
Bennett Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: N P Bennett), Armac (Mgr: Mrs D Arnel), Bennett Racing Paulita (Mgr: N P Bennett), D Phillips, M Buckley, M V Broadhead & J G Falcke

Sales Information

4th 7. SUNTORA (AUS) 2yo F
TORONADO (IRE) - KANSAS SUNFLOWER (NZ)
JYE MCNEIL
NICK RYAN
$7
55.5kg

Sales Information

5th 6. SHADEELAA (AUS) 2yo C
SHALAA (IRE) - WHATADEEL (AUS)
DECLAN BATES
MATT CUMANI
$26
56.5kg

Sales Information

6th 4. WINSTON (AUS) 2yo G
CHURCHILL (IRE) - SONOMA (AUS)
CRAIG NEWITT
JOHN MCARDLE
$17
57.5kg

Sales Information

7th 8. MOANA KOHALA (NZ) 2yo F
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - MAWZOONA (AUS)
WILL PRICE
PETER G MOODY & KATHERINE COLEMAN
$81
54kg

Sales Information

8th 5. EVERGRANDE (AUS) 2yo G
HALLOWED CROWN (AUS) - HURRY HARRIET (AUS)
TEODORE NUGENT
JOHN MOLONEY
$11
56.5kg

Sales Information

9th 9. COOL STAR (AUS) 2yo F
STRATUM STAR (AUS) - COOL COCO (AUS)
CORY PARISH
TETYANA FURDETSKA
$151
54kg

Sales Information

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