Success lives here

At Flemington in Melbourne, Coolmore's deceased dual Derby-winning shuttler & 6-time Gr1 victor High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells-Kasora, by Dashaan) celebrated an elite race success when 3YO brown colt Ace High (High Chaparral-Come Sunday, by Redoute's Choice) proved a class above his rivals when bounding to a comfortable win in the 163rd running of the $1.5 million Gr1 Victoria Derby (2500m) for 3YOs, defeating Sully & Astoria. Ace High, who is a direct descendant of Natalma, the dam of the legendary Northern Dancer and grand-dam of Danehill, improved his record to 4 wins (including the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes & Gr3 Gloaming Stakes) and 1 placing from 12 starts for $1,408,375 in earnings. Trainer David Payne said Ace High had fulfilled the potential he always believed he possessed. "We've been planning the Derby since he was a two-year-old, not long after we put him into work," Payne told racing.com. "It doesn't usually work out but it has this time." Payne said Ace High would now be spelled with long-term targets being the Australian Derby in the autumn and the Melbourne Cup next spring. Ace High was purchased by Payne for $130,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds.