Red Aces back on track for Victoria Derby after Moonee Valley Vase win on Cox Plate day

Red Aces is back in the mix for the Victoria Derby after a thrilling win in the Moonee Valley Vase on Saturday.

Targets and dreams stand in front of Flemington trainer Nick Ryan after Red Aces prevailed in a three-way go in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase.

Red Aces ($3.20) became a $7 second favourite for next Saturday’s Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington when he outslugged Opening Address ($7.50) and King Of Thunder ($3.90).

The Victoria Derby has long been Ryan’s main goal with Red Aces but the Dundeel colt is still among Melbourne Cup entries.

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“He’s still in there (the Melbourne Cup). It wasn’t much to pay up the other day, I suppose,” Ryan said.

“You can keep the dream alive.”

How about the roar from the crowd! 🔥

Red Aces takes out the Vase! 🂡@[e-mail]/MSh7y4juE3

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

Red Aces quickly bounced back after a minor issue prompted his scratching at the barriers at Caulfield last Saturday.

The promising stayer worked at The Valley on Tuesday morning but Ryan said Red Aces needed gallops on Thursday and on the morning of the Moonee Valley Vase.

“He had a really good gallop here Tuesday. I had to do a bit more with him Thursday. He’d come through that so well,’ Ryan said.

“I actually rode him myself this morning. I had to give him a little whirl around because he’s so well.”

Red Aces (centre) digs deep to beat Opening Address (right) and King Of Thunder in the Vase at The Valley. Picture: Michael Klein

Winning rider Jamie Mott said Red Aces presented him with a terrific chance to win his first Victoria Derby.

“I am very confident. I think it’s his year for sure,” Mott said.

“Obviously he missed a run last week, so he was fresh and it was a good go for next week.”

Ryan said getting back to his home track, where Red Aces has won and finished second in his two starts, advantaged his charge in the Derby.

“The beauty is, he just has to walk over the road (from his stable),” Ryan said. It’s his home deck and we love playing on our home deck.

“It’s just exciting.”

CREEK RUNS TO COOLMORE

Bittercreek rebounded from a disappointing performance last start to win the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and book a ticket to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Bittercreek finished over the top of Pisces and Winnasedge, held up at a crucial stage at the top of the straight.

Troy Corstens, who trains in partnership with father Leon and Will Larkin, said Bittercreek, ridden by Ben Allen, would advance to the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday at Flemington.

“I was absolutely gutted after his run in the Danehill because I thought he was an out-and-out Coolmore horse, and when he ran the way that he did, it just really floored me,” Corstens said.

“A hundred-per cent, he’s backing up. Don’t worry about that. We’ve always thought that he’s such a classy animal. He probablyjust needed that run.

“He’s a strong boy. He’s really, really tough. And he’s going to take his place in the Coolmore.”

Originally published as Red Aces back on track for Victoria Derby after Moonee Valley Vase win on Cox Plate day