Dundeel weighs in with Red Aces
At his 5th start Red Aces (red cap) won a hectic contest for the Moonee Valley Vase G2. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Dundeel landed his second Group winner in a week when Red Aces won a thrilling battle for the $400,000 MVRC Moonee Valley Vase 2040m G2 on Cox Plate day.
He joins Caulfield Classic G3 winner Kingofwallstreet to give Dundeel two well-fancied contenders for next Saturday’s $2 million Victoria Derby G1. Ironically, Red Aces was a late scratching from the Caulfield race, which now means he has a quick back-up into the Derby.
However, his trainer Nick Ryan sees that forced change of plan as a blessing in disguise, and has confidence in his colt and his liking for Flemington. “Today’s the perfect gallop for next week…He’s tough, he’s a good colt…Flemington is his home deck and we love playing on our home deck.”
Jockey Jamie Mott echoed Ryan’s assessment of Red Aces. “We’ve always been confident of his staying ability and if you look at him, he’s a magnificent animal.”
“Favourite got in, scraped in, Red Aces!”
What a tough performance by the @nryanracing-trained stayer 💪 @jamieleemott pic.twitter.com/w25ekRqobg
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 26, 2024
Bred & sold by Musk Creek Farm, Red Aces is the final foal and second Group winner left by the Encosta de Lago mare Cardiac, a half-sister of Arapaho Miss (winner of the 2007 VRC Oaks G1 & dam of 2019 Oaks winner Miami Bound) – all descended from the influential matron Pocahontas.
Nick Ryan’s $380,000 bid for Red Aces was the top price paid for a Dundeel yearling at Inglis Premier 2023, and the colt has already repaid that amount with two wins and two placings from his first 5 starts.
An hour after Red Aces’ victory, another 3YO colt came close to adding a Randwick Group 1 win to Dundeel’s record. That was Henlein, who finished less than a half-length from El Castello in the Spring Champion S. G1, making him Dundeel’s 22nd Group 1 performer and major 3YO earner so far this season.
Henlein’s jockey Tommy Berry said, “Very proud of him. Got onto the winner’s back coming to the corner. I thought we had his measure half way down the straight. Full credit to the winner. He was too good today.”
Dundeel joins his son Castelvecchio and their Arrowfield barn-mates Snitzel & The Autumn Sun among the top 10 stallions on the current Australian 3YO Sires’ Premiership.
