Trainer David Payne is not expecting too much from Ace High when he returns in the Expressway Stakes but is keen to get the colt to the races.
The winner of the Victoria Derby on November 4, Ace High had a few weeks in the spelling paddock before returning to Payne’s Rosehill stable.
The colt proved his fitness in a barrier trial last Monday when 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner Trapeze Artist and three-quarters of a length in front of Winx.
“Saturday’s race will be too short for him over 1200 metres but he’s going so well he will hurt himself if he doesn’t start now,” Payne said.
“The race will just take the edge off him and then we look to the longer races.
“Even though he only had four-and-a-half weeks out he has actually matured and is a bigger, stronger horse.”
Ace High was one of nine entries taken on Monday for Saturday’s weight-for-age sprint at Rosehill with Global Glamour the $3 favourite in the TAB’s opening market ahead of Bjorn Baker-trained stablemates Addictive Nature and Egyptian Symbol at $4.50 and the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist at $5.
Entries have been extended until Tuesday morning.
After the Expressway, Ace High will follow the traditional three-year-old autumn path to the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Payne and owner John Cordina will then decide whether to aim the colt at the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) on April 7 or the weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) a week later.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained dual Group One winner Global Glamour won the Group Two Tristarc Stakes on October 21 but has been unplaced in two starts since in the Myer Classic and Magic Millions Fillies and Mares.
