Search

show me:

Timeform Recap: Rosehill - Jan 31

3 minute read

Innovative thinking from trainer Chris Waller has seen Weary return to his winning ways by taking out the Group 2 Expressway Stakes.

Waller has long held the reputation of being one of Australia’s leading horsemen however the Rosehill based trainer admitted to being stumped by the case that has been Weary.

Tagged as a potential Cox Plate horse after a superb 2014 autumn campaign where he placed in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile and the All Aged Stakes, Weary disappointed during a three start spring campaign.

The Duncan and Mary Grimish-raced runner had been refusing to gallop at trackwork which was just one of the highly strung gallopers quirks.

With the employment of a companion pony by Weary's side named Dunlop at the start of his latest preparation, it is clear Waller has found the key to the import based on a first up success in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

Weary
Weary Picture: Racing and Sports

Nicely into stride for jockey Tommy Berry, the grey found the fence and settled sixth behind an early three way speed battle.

Always saving ground, Weary stayed near the rail on straightening and while perhaps not on the best part of the track, unwound well along the inside to collar a brave Driefontein in a head bobber.

The performance was a sign the Astronomer Royal gelding was back to somewhere near his best with the first up performance yielding the five-year-old a Timeform rating of 116.

This effort comes in just one pound shy of a master figure achieved when second in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) behind Hana’s Goal during the autumn.

Waller saddled up five runners in the event, all of which are at this stage expected to contest the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 14.

Weary holds a nomination for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14.

Earlier in the program, the two-year-olds were sent out to contest the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m).

Vancouver
Vancouver Picture: Racing and Sports

A bold winning performance in the Canonbury Stakes by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Vancouver has seen the colt elevated to favouritism for next month’s Golden Slipper.

The Breeders’ Plate winner from the spring hit the ground running first up and continued Gai Waterhouse’s dominance of the event since Sebring claimed the 2008 renewal.

Vancouver was settled back in the field by jockey Tommy Berry and the pair waited patiently until straightening before making their move.

Berry switched the colt off heels from the 400m and Vancouver let down well in the straight, collaring early leader Outreach with 50m remaining before a three-quarter length win ensued.

The run returned a Timeform rating of 110, a pound shy of the colt’s master Timeform figure yielded when winning the Breeders’ Plate on debut.

Vancouver
Vancouver Picture: Racing and Sports

Gai Waterhouse has won four of the past eight Breeders’ Plate renewals with Vancouver following in the footsteps of former stable runners Sebring, Raceway and Fighting Sun 12 months ago.

Vancouver’s Timeform rating of 110 is shy of what those previous Waterhouse runners produced however his master of 111 returned in the Breeders’ Plate still sees the Medaglia D’Oro colt sitting second in the two-year-old rankings for this season.

Fontiton remains at the top of the table for her blistering debut display at Moonee Valley.

Connections of course have the Golden Slipper in mind for Vancouver who can become just the third horse to have completed this double.

Fine And Dandy in 1959 before Sebring in 2008 are the pair who can boast achieving this feat.

The Canonbury Stakes does have the potential to be a stronger form reference heading to the Golden Slipper in upcoming renewals with the latter having been brought forward two weeks.

The Widden Stakes has played host to the last two Golden Slipper winners with both Overreach (2013) and Mossfun (2014) claiming the Widden Stakes/Golden Slipper double.

Overreach was the dominant filly of the early autumn also claiming the Riesling Stakes (1200m) second run from a spell.

Even before these classy fillies claimed doubles, Satin Shoes and Driefontein during the two seasons prior were considered key players heading into their respective Golden Slipper tilts.

This year’s Widden Stakes renewal came in on the weaker side of things won by the Gerald Ryan-trained Fireworks.

Fireworks
Fireworks Picture: Racing and Sports

It was a workmanlike performance by the daughter of Snitzel, settling worse than midfield before gradual wearing down those in front of her for a slender success.

The performance returned the filly a Timeform rating of 102, well below the prior five year winning average of the event.

Not entered for the Golden Slipper, a $150,000 late entry fee would be required if she were to contest next month’s lucrative juvenile feature.

Ratings suggest the filly will need to find substantial improvement if such an exorbitant fee is to be justified.


Racing and Sports

Rosehill

Saturday, 31st January 2015

6
16:15
(local)

Expressway Stakes (G2)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
AUD $201,700
1200m TURF SOFT
6
16:15
(local)
AUD $201,700
1200m SOFT

Expressway Stakes (G2)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN

Weary began quite well from his good barrier (4) and settled in a nice spot, sixth on the rails, behind a good tempo. He improved along the rails from the home turn, got through to fourth at the 200m and continued to run on well to grab a last-stride win. It was a smart first-up performance and he looks set for a good preparation. Driefontein was quickly away and drove through to retain the lead, despite some early pressure. She dashed clear shortly after turning for home and looked the winner but was caught right on the post for a game second. Territory was fourth, one out and one back, got a split between runners at the 200m and kept fighting on well for a good third. The favourite Panzer Division began well from his outside barrier (11) and then eased to race in seventh place, one off the rails. He was under riding as he switched wider at the 300m and kept making ground, a bit one-paced, to finish a sound first-up (1.2 lengths) fourth. Malavio was fifth on the rails, got an inside run at the 300m and battled well for (1.9 lengths) fifth at his first run since May. Thermal Current was outside the leader to the home turn before finishing (2.1 lengths) sixth. Bagman caught the eye running on late from last for a promising first-up (2.3 lengths) seventh. Beaten Up plugged on quite well from near last for (2.9 lengths) eighth while three-time Group One winner Boban was always well back, went wide from the 300m and ran on without threatening for (3.4 lengths) ninth. Boban was reported to have been very fractious in the barriers and a post race veterinary examination revealed abrasions to both forelegs.

FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 4. WEARY (FR) 5yo G
ASTRONOMER ROYAL (USA) - AMERICA NOVA (FR)
TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER
$7
58.5kg
G L Grimish & Mrs M Grimish
2nd 10. DRIEFONTEIN (AUS) 5yo M
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - FOLLOW GOLD (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
MS GAI WATERHOUSE
$5.5
56.5kg
Mrs A M Howlett, A J Bealing, D K Dong, L A King, Dr E T Hodgson, Mrs I Murphy, J A J Allen, C Tohl & Mrs S A Hardie

Sales Information

3rd 8. TERRITORY (AUS) 7yo G
LONHRO (AUS) - DOMINIONS (AUS)
SAM CLIPPERTON
J M AUSTIN
$13
58.5kg
D V Andrews, Mrs K Carroll, K D O'Dowd, R G Matheson & N Voukelatos

Sales Information

4th 11. PANZER DIVISION (AUS) 3yo C
REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - DESERT FIGHT (CHI)
JAMES MCDONALD
PAUL MESSARA
$4.5
55kg

Sales Information

5th 6. MALAVIO (AUS) 6yo G
SNITZEL (AUS) - WIN HERE WIN THERE (AUS)
CHRISTIAN REITH
STEVE ENGLEBRECHT
$16
58.5kg
6th 9. THERMAL CURRENT (AUS) 4yo G
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - SOARESSA (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
PETER G MOODY
$16
58.5kg

Sales Information

7th 5. BAGMAN (AUS) 8yo G
EASY ROCKING (AUS) - BADA BING (AUS)
BRENTON AVDULLA
CHRIS WALLER
$31
58.5kg
8th 2. BEATEN UP (GB) 7yo G
BEAT HOLLOW (GB) - FROG (GB)
JASON COLLETT
CHRIS WALLER
$41
58.5kg
9th 1. BOBAN (AUS) 5yo G
BERNARDINI (USA) - KENBELLE (AUS)
GLYN SCHOFIELD
CHRIS WALLER
$5.5
58.5kg

Sales Information

10th 3. HAWKSPUR (AUS) 5yo G
PURREALIST (AUS) - MOLLYHAWK (AUS)
TYE ANGLAND
CHRIS WALLER
$41
58.5kg
11th 7. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA (AUS) 5yo G
FLYING SPUR (AUS) - SUNDAY SERVICE (AUS)
JOSH PARR
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$6
58.5kg

Sales Information

What are you really gambling with?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au