Exceed And Excel colt Performer broke new ground for the Chris Waller stable with victory in the Listed Breeders' Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Performer ($5), a $450,000 yearling from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, became just the third pre-Christmas two-year-old winner for Waller ever after surging to a three-quarter length win over Peter and Paul Snowden's Bondi ($4.60).
Two-year-old racing has never been recognised as Waller's domain of expertise but with an ever-expanding empire of horses, one could have expected that his more precocious youngsters would eventually emerge.
His two other pre-Christmas juvenile winners came as recently as last year via Luiza (October 8) and Madame Moustache (October 15).
The Breeders' Plate has proven a reliable source for future Group I winners, including Golden Slipper victors Capitalist (2015), Pierro (2011), and Sebring (2008), and early indications are that Performer is a well above average colt.
"There was a little bit of concern coming to the races off only one trial but throughout our system he's progressed without us ever really turning the screws," stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.
"He's a scopey a colt with plenty of growing to do and looks to have a massive future."
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Santos ($18) finished a further 1-3/4 lengths back in third while Godolphin's Hiemal ($3.70 fav) weakened over the final 100m into sixth.
