The
Chris Waller juggernaut rolled on over the weekend with the stable successful in both Melbourne with
Catkins and Sydney with
Chateau Lafaite and other eye catching runs from
Foreteller, Sacred Falls and Dynamic’s own
Made To Order.
CATKINS
Chris Waller will consider pitting Catkins against the stable's star mare Red Tracer in next Saturday's Group One Myer Classic after her strong victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Catkins handled her first 1600m test with ease taking out the Gr3 Eliza Park International Stakes, her second Gr3 win in Melbourne this campaign along with two Gr2 placings.
Waller already has Gr1 winner Red Tracer set to start a likely favourite in next Saturday's Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington, but Catkins could also have earned her chance.
"You've got to consider it" Waller said.
"Ideally the Gr1 Coolmore Classic would be the race for her in the autumn.”
"It's on her home track at Rosehill and is a handicap over 1500 metres but we'll certainly have a think about Saturday."
Jockey Craig Newitt had Catkins just behind the speed and had to be patient coming to the home turn before a run presented itself along the rails.
Under a big weight of 59kg, Catkins sprinted strongly along the fence to defeat Cameo by a length with Lake Sententia another half length away third.
"I couldn't believe how well she quickened with the big weight," Waller said.
"She obviously gets the mile no problems."
Waller said Catkins' record of eight wins and five minor placings from 16 starts showed her competitiveness and will to win.
"Any horse that does that is a good horse," he said.
CHATEAU LAFAITE
As older sister Royal Descent's spring was cut short, the younger Chateau Lafaite emerged from the shadow of her Gr1 winning sibling to set a course for the Australian Oaks in the autumn.
Connections are convinced she's an even better prospect for the three-year-old fillies' classic than her illustrious big sister, which waded through the wet for a 10-length romp in the Oaks last season.
In keeping with her penchant for doing just enough, Chateau Lafaite ground her way to a narrow win in a Benchmark 75 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill. It was enough to print her ticket to Melbourne and a start at Flemington during Cup week but it's a staying campaign in the autumn which really appeals after Waller prepared Royal Descent to win the Australian Oaks in her first preparation.
She's going to go on to bigger and better things than today, racing manager Liam Prior said. Her pedigree suggests she will be a stayer. Obviously in the autumn we're hoping she will be an Oaks filly. Timing-wise it's probably better for her than Royal Descent because she basically did it in one prep. She [Chateau Lafaite] is going to have the chance to have a prep, then a break and come back in.
Chateau Lafaite just failed to reel in Earnest Desire when resuming last month before beating Gamblestown to win at her first metropolitan Saturday start a fortnight ago.
She had her supporters in Saturday's race a touch nervous when Peter Robl on Forget Maybe had her hemmed in on the rails until well into the straight.
But once Chateau Lafaite saw daylight, she quickly reeled in David Payne's Foreign Prince to score by a long head with Raunchy Rocker a distant third.
She's learning about how to race and she relaxed a lot better for me today, jockey Glyn Schofield said. ''She pushed herself out and found the line really well.
And Schofield was bullish about his mount's prospects in the autumn.
Her pedigree suggests that the Oaks is going to be the case, but she's got to get up to that sort of level, he said. She's doing more than what Royal Descent was at this time and if she makes the same progress that would be great.
SACRED FALLS
Chris Waller’s Epsom winner Sacred Falls had no luck and went down in a three-way battle to decide the Schweppes Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Waller felt Sacred Falls probably should have won after being jammed up on the fence when the winner and runner-up had built up full momentum.
“On the bright side, it has probably saved him a kilo in the Emirates,” he said.
“Even though he had no luck, it was a pleasing run.
“He hadn’t attacked the line all preparation and he did that today.
“He should be cherry ripe for the Emirates.”
FORETELLER
Nobody missed the unlucky run of Foreteller in Saturday’s Cox Plate. Striking interference from the 600m to the turn that certainly cost it the race, Foreteller was yet another example of how well Sydney’s Leading Trainer can manage his middle distance training roster to have his horses placed to advantage and how it justified his decision to run in the race although it was a last minute change of mind on the close of nominations.
HEART TESTA
It should have won on Saturday however the way the Rosehill track played out over the day more likely cost it victory as the hard and fast track on the fence was the place to be and those off the fence appeared in the go slow lane. He tried very hard in a two horse war up the straight but the winner had the better racing ground on the fence and this proved the difference.
MADE TO ORDER
Dynamic Syndications runner was on debut at Kembla Grange and is still looking for a way out of a tight pocket to see her run second being the best of good things beaten.
We had wanted to be in a positive forward position on jumping but had not expected to lead but rather settle just in behind the speed and try to get to the outside with clear running turning for home.
Unfortunately it all went pear shaped at the start when through inexperience, Made To Order was a touch slow to react when the gates flew open and she jumped half a length behind them. That’s all it takes in speed races. By the time they had run 25m she was a length further back than anticipated which allowed wayward runners infront to take her racing line and she had to be steadied off the heels of the runner in front of her. By the time they had reached the 1000m mark she was well back beyond mid field but only 3 pairs back the fence with a lot of traffic racing tightly around her.
The winner was a pair further back than us but was racing one off the fence with cover. We were stuck in the ruck because the filly herself had bungled the start.
As they approached the home turn MADE TO ORDER was jogging but locked up tight. That’s not usually a problem at Kembla where the big roomy straight and long run home traditionally gives every runner an opportunity. Alas not this time.
As they swung for home the winner moved up 4 deep around us and set sail for the judge. We were locked in tight. We had Mitchell Bell on Tickets Please directly to our outside and refusing to give Adrian an inch keeping her in the pocket.
The runner in front of us was the Snowden trained Scrutiny with Andrew Gibbons on board. Every time a half gap appeared Gibbons horse rolled around like a drunken sailor chopping off the gap. Adrian tried to go inside and then outside and was having no joy. At the 200m he had to pull back on the reins and check her out of a gap that closed quickly otherwise she would have fallen. All our momentum was lost.
Finally at the 120m a gap opened back to the inside and Adrian turned her across heals at 45 degrees to get to the gap. Still unbalanced he drove her to the line from the 100m and she flew.
Yes – She was the best of good things beaten based on class but bad luck and her lack of race experience both conspired to get her beat – nothing more. She is a Black Booker of considerable promise.