Harness racings Nevele R Stud is delighted to announce that the recently retired Gold Ace will be joining the stallion ranks of the Prebbleton based farm this coming breeding season.
The richest Southern Hemisphere bred stallion by Bettor’s Delight (and his third highest Australasian stakes-winner overall behind Beautide and Adore Me), Gold Ace won 22 races, 16 at Group level, and more than $1.2 million in prize-money in a career that spanned six seasons.
A winner of the Yearling Sales Series Consolation at 2, it was as a 3-year-old that Gold Ace established himself as one of the best age group pacers of the past few decades, winning more than $500,000 in stakes and 10 of his 15 starts (placing in a further three), including the Sires Stakes Final, NZ Derby and Harness Jewels Emerald – a Group 1 classic race trifecta which is unmatched to date.
The Steven Reid trained NZ 3YO Pacer of the Year was also victorious that season in the Group 2 Elsu Classic and the Yearling Sales Series Open Pace, as well as dead-heating with arch rival Terror To Love, with whom he would have some epic battles over the years (for a score line of 7 wins apiece and a draw), in the Group 2 Flying Stakes.
At 4, Gold Ace targeted the rich Western Australian 4YO features, easily winning both the Group 1 Golden Nugget and the Group 2 WA 4YO Championship at his only two starts in the State, impressing leading WA trainer Gary Hall so much so that he offered connections $1 million to buy the brilliant son of Bettors Delight – comparing him favourably to stable star and one of the richest Southern Hemisphere pacers ever Im Themightyquinn.
That season also saw Gold Ace win the 4YO Superstars Championship and place in the Group 1 Easter Cup, Taylor Mile and Messenger Championship.
There were plenty more feature race wins at 5 and 6, with the handsome stallion taking out the Group 1 NZ Free-For-All in a track record 1:52.6 mile rate, the Group 2 Waikato Flying Mile in 1:53.3, the Group 3 Canterbury Classic, once again over Terror To Love, and when based at Belinda and Luke McCarthy's NSW stable the Group 1 Cranbourne Pacing Cup, Group 2 Shepparton and Kevin Newman Cups, as well as recording a terrific third to Christen Me in the 2013 Hunter Cup.
The current season has seen the durable pacer add a further two Group Race features to his impressive tally – winning the Founders Cup at Alexandra Park in a sensational 1,700m national record of 1:59.7 (the mile rate was an incredible 1:53.3!), along with the Summer Cup over the likes of NZ Trotting Cup runner up Franco Nelson. Gold Ace was also a superb second in 1:51.8 to Adore Me in the Group 2 Sky City Waikato Flying Mile in one of his last starts.
A stunning looking individual with flawless conformation Gold Ace possesses a pedigree to match his racetrack performance – being by Bettor’s Delight, a stallion that has rewritten the siring record books season after season, out of a winning In The Pocket mare who has also left the smart full siblings Gold Elite 1:57.3 ($70,037 6 wins) and Strike The Gold 1:55.8 ($63,221 4 wins).
The second dam Touch Of Gold (by Soky’s Atom) left numerous high class performers – Group 2 Elliot Futurity winner Seeking The Gold 1:50.4 ($252,458), Waikato Guineas winner Golden Son 1:54.8 ($86,585) and NZ Oaks place-getter Golden Charm 1:59.7 ($33,036) – the dam of Coppertone 1:50.4 ($119,076).
Gold Ace is from the same highly successful maternal family as Smiling Shard 1:53.7 ($1,178,793), Kiwi Ingenuity 1:52.1 ($523,200) and Sly Flyin 1:53.6 ($911,689).
His debut season fee has been set at $3,000 + GST (AU$3,300 incl GST) and he is included in both Nevele R's early bird and multiple mare discounts.
“Gold Ace ticks all the right boxes in terms of what we look for in a sire – he’s got performance, pedigree, impeccable looks and conformation, as well as an outstanding temperament and we’re really looking forward to his first season at stud; and expect him to be popular with breeders given that he’s not only the best performed local son of Bettor’s Delight but also an exceptional type” commented Nevele R Marketing Manager Nikki Reed.
For bookings and more information please visit www.nevelerstud.co.nz or contact the Nevele R office.