The Gerry Harvey-bred Domain Ace boasts a Group 1 pedigree and the youngster has quickly added to the family roll of honour.
The son of Swiss Ace was a clear-cut debut winner at Otaki earlier this month and at Ellerslie on Saturday he maintained his undefeated record with another commanding performance to land the Listed Star Way Stakes over 1200 metres.
Swiss Ace also starred offshore with his four-year-old Sabah Ace successful at Kranji on Sunday evening to continue his march through the grades in Singapore.
Domain Ace settled three deep in midfield without cover from an awkward barrier before improving wider near the turn and produced an irresistible finish in Craig Grylls’ hands to forge a length and a half clear.
“He’s a very nice horse and still very green and learning to be a racehorse,” co-trainer and part-owner Graeme Rogerson said.
“Craig said he missed the start, he doesn’t quite know what he’s doing yet, but he is something special.”
Rogerson said the plan was to now target the Listed Waikato Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes at Te Rapa on May 4, with the Listed Champagne Stakes a longer-term possibility.
“We are pretty confident that he’s a Group horse. He’s going to run in two weeks’ time at Te Rapa and maybe in the Champagne Stakes as well.”
Domain Ace was offered at last year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale by Westbury Stud and was knocked down for A$35,000 to Rogerson.
He has remained in the ownership group after the youngster was subsequently passed in at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
Domain Ace is a son of the Hussonet mare Internet and her half-brother Delago De Luxe was the champion juvenile colt of his year in South Africa and two-time Group 1 winner of the Golden Horse Casino Sprint and the Gold Medallion Stakes.
The third dam Staging was successful four times at Group 2 level and produced the G1 BTC Cup winner Duporth, the G1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Excites and Tickets, who won a brace of Group 2 events and finished runner-up in the Sires’ Produce.
Internet has a yearling sister to Domain Ace and produced a colt by Reliable Man last year and is back in foal to Swiss Ace.
Meanwhile, the David Kok-trained Sabah Ace took his record to six wins from 13 appearances with his latest victory over 1600 metres.
He was purchased out of Westbury’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft at Karaka for $50,000 and is a son of the late Danehill mare Show Exhibit.
All 10 of her foals to race successful with her last foal an unraced two-year-old son of Tarzino.
Show Exhibit has a strong international pedigree with her second dam a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and Champion Sire El Gran Senor, whose brother Try My Best won the G1 Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes.