Domain Ace (NZ) Strikes in Star Way Stakes

Less than five months after being passed in at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) became a black-type winner in Saturday’s $100,000 Listed TAB Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.

The two-year-old feature was only the second career start for Domain Ace, who boasts a perfect two-from-two record and has earned $67,860. He was offered by Rogerson Bloodstock at the Ready to Run Sale with a reserve of just $50,000.

Domain Ace made a big impression with his debut victory at Otaki on Easter Monday, prompting trainers Team Rogerson to consider throwing him in at the deep end for the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) just five days later. They opted for a more patient approach in the end, and it paid dividends with a Listed win at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Ridden by Craig Grylls, Domain Ace left the starting gates a little awkwardly and found himself at the tail of the nine-horse field. He slid forward three-wide to move into sixth place as the field made their way down the side of the track, then came widest of all around the home turn.

Grylls asked Domain Ace for maximum effort in the straight and he strode to the lead at the 100-metre mark, kicking away from the dual Group placegetter Love Poem (Snitzel) to win by a length and a half.

“He’s a very nice horse, and still very green and learning to be a racehorse,” Hall of Fame horseman Graeme Rogerson said. “Craig said he missed the start, he doesn’t quite know what he’s doing yet, but he is something special.

“We are pretty confident that he’s a Group horse. He’s going to run again in two weeks’ time at Te Rapa, and then maybe in the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1600m) as well.”

Domain Ace is one of three two-year-old winners to have already come out of the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, alongside promising Australian performers Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) and Khadime (Star Turn).