Crystal Pegasus Captures Mornington Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday March 26

Coming off a win in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington, the Chris Waller-trained Crystal Pegasus (GB) made it four wins on the bounce when earning a golden ticket to the Caulfield Cup with his victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).

Crystal Pegasus in rare form (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Craig Williams, the Chris Waller-trained gelding bettered Pondus after a short, sharp battle to win by one and a quarter length with Dadoozdart (GB) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

“We thought he would be the horse to beat today. The barrier was going to be a little bit tricky to get him in the right position,” stable representative Jo Taylor said.  

Advertisement

“Pondus was the right horse to follow. We were hoping that it was not going to be too much of a sit and sprint, but Craig certainly rated him perfectly.

“He’s earned himself a trip back up to Sydney, and Chris has a few plans for him up there first. Then I think he will have a well-deserved spell before we start a Caulfield Cup campaign with him.

“We’ll have a look at how he pulls up and how it fits in to his program now, but the (Sydney Cup) is the plan. Take him home, wrap him up in cotton wool and get him up to Sydney in one piece for Chris.”

Craig Williams was celebrating another big in for the stable after guiding September Run to victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

“It’s a great race now the Melbourne Racing Club, in conjunction with the Mornington Racing Club, have made this an exempt ballot for the Caulfield Cup, and it’s now a target race,” Williams said.

Crystal Pegasus has eyes on the Sydney Cup (image Brett/Holburt/Racing Photos)

“It’s also two weeks before the Sydney Cup, and this is a lovely imported horse they have been developing, and he’s really starting to hit his straps now.”

A son of Galileo’s Epsom Derby winner Australia, Crystal Pegasus advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $564,050.

Bred by Southcourt Stud, Crystal Pegasus won twice and placed five times in nine starts before Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge sent him to the 2020 Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

Waller liked what he saw and outlaid 190,000 guineas.

A half-brother to stakes-placed Crystal Hope (Nathaniel), Crystal Pegasus (IRE) is out of the Dansili mare Crystal Etoile, a half-sister to the champion Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars), Group 1 winner Hillstar (Danehill Dancer), and multiple Group II winner Crystal Capella (Cape Cross).

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Mornington Cup LR 2400m

Mornington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:30.64
1
Crystal Pegasus
- 5g Australia (GB) x Crystal Etoile (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 56
2
1.3
Pondus
- 6g Sea The Moon (GER) x Diablerette (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: M J Dee 59.5
3
3.1
Dadoozdart
- 6g Dawn Approach (IRE) x Hairpin (USA) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
4
4.0
Defibrillate
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Our Chickaroonie (NZ) (Groom Dancer (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 59.5
5
6.0
White Hawk
- 8g Tough Speed (USA) x White Yard (AUS) (Partners Choice (USA))
Tnr: Angela Brakey Rdr: Declan Bates 54
6
21.0
Sacramento
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Alzora (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: D Oliver 59
7
26.0
Corbulo
- 4g Belardo (IRE) x Crossanza (IRE) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: J Warren & D Krongold Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
More Reading...
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
Vivid Sun Shines Bright At Sandown
Recording her second win in as many starts, 3yo The Autumn Sun filly Vivid Sun looked something special as she resumed from a spell at Sandown to trounce her rivals by more than two lengths on Wednesday, signalling a step up to black type races during the Spring.
Almanzor Mare Salutes for Cambridge Stud
Daring Dame broke through for an elusive win when taking out the Kensington Tavern 1200 at Ruakaka on Wednesday.
A Stroll for Crystal Pegasus in Roy Higgins Stakes
The $2,000,000 Sydney Cup at Randwick is on the agenda for Crystal Pegasus (IRE) after the progressive son of Australia routed his opponents in Saturday’s Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 3
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G3 Tibbie Next for Tuileries
Lightly raced So You Think mare Tuileries has long promised to measure up to stakes class and will be given that opportunity next start after returning to top form to win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Cox Plate Dreamer
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who made a winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
So You Think filly Scores for TAB Racing
The TAB Racing Club’s silks were to the fore at Ruakaka on Wednesday, with three-year-old filly Transcend carrying them to victory in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 1200.
Engine of War Wins for MyRacehorse at Sandown
VRC Derby aspirant Engine Of War made a winning Australian debut from the quarters of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500m.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.