The Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) in Adelaide and Gr.2 WATC Derby (2400m) in Perth are considerations for the Lindsey Smith-trained Adelaide Ace (NZ) (Savabeel) later this season after a win in Saturday’s Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m).
Adelaide Ace was sent out the $2.50 favourite and controlled Saturday’s three-year-old feature at Caulfield from the front under jockey John Allen scoring by 1-1/4 lengths.
“The second horse (Nonconformist) was quite determined to pick him up,” Smith said.
“He drifted out up the straight but the margin was too great.
“It was a good win. The gap back to the third horse (Legion of Merit) always looks a good sign.
“The race was run to suit him. He had them boxed up and it was only really a sprint home the last 600 metres.”
Adelaide Ace was on a Victoria Derby path last spring after winning the Derby Trial at Flemington in September but he never made it to the Classic because of shin soreness.
Smith said he would now consider his autumn plans for the gelding, with the Gr.2 WATC Derby (2400m) on April 11 and Gr.1 SA Derby (2500m) the following month as options.
“We’ll have a look tonight and see what he does,” Smith said.
Bred by Gartshore Bloodstock, Adelaide Ace was purchased via New Zealand Bloodstock’s online auction house gavelhouse.com by respected Australian bloodstock agent John Foote.
Foote went to $110,000 to secure the son of Savabeel as a weanling.
Out of the Pins mare Ampin (NZ), a half-sister to Group Three winner Strike The Stars (NZ) (Savabeel) and three other stakes performers, Adelaide Ace is a full brother to Group Three placed mare Savy Yong Blonk (NZ).
“He was a strong type and moved well,” Foote said.
“I actually bought him for Darren Weir and I thought he was good buying.”
In the same gavelhouse auction Foote also purchased Ampin in foal to Savabeel for what was a record price of $211,000 at the time.
“They were the first horses I bought off gavelhouse,” Foote said.
“Savy Yong Blonk was just being broken in at the time and I bought the mare for some friends of mine.
“The mare had a Savabeel colt and he is now a two-year-old that has gone to Tony Gollan and is named Auron.”
Meanwhile, VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man) was beaten over six lengths in eighth.
“We’ve been very happy with her going into but she looked today like she was looking for 2400 metres already,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.
O’Brien said the plan remains for Miami Bound to run in the Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) next before heading to Sydney for Group One targets
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