Chris Waller said he was looking forward to the spring with the Snitzel colt Congregation and The Autumn Sun filly Tutta La Vita after the talented pair fought out a dramatic finish of the TAB Hcp (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The $2,250,000 colt Congregation kept his record at a perfect two for two when edging out the luckless Tutta La Vita by a nose in a deceptive finish.
The Capitalist colt Stand Aside was three lengths back in third.
Congregation carried a weight penalty for his debut win at Canterbury on May 24.
“Both connections have nice horses,” Waller said.
“I think the filly will win a good race, a real Flight Stakes type of horse.
“Congregation is a lovely colt that keeps improving. You are seeing a baby in comparison to where he will end up.
“Both have exciting futures.
“It was a clever ride by Kerrin; it wasn’t an easy draw. He got him into a beautiful position and taught him how to be a racehorse, which is the benefit of this nice autumn we are having. The horses are running on good tracks, which will help them in the spring.
“I’ll be going home pretty happy today.”
Sporting the silks of Coolmore’s Derrick Smith, Congregation is a brother to Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab.
Tom Magnier had the final say at $2,250,000 to secure Congregation from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He is the fifth winner from six to race for the dual Group 1 winner Response. Besides Estijaab, he is a brother to the stakes-placegetters Alter Call and Remarque.
His dam Response was a $50,000 Easter yearling purchase for Barry and Midge Griffiths in 2008 and sold the daughter of Charge Forward for $840,000 to SF Bloodstock at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale.
Three years later, she made $1,500,000 to the bid of Katsumi Yoshida at the National Broodmare Sale. Her yearlings have sold for $1,050,000, $1,700,000, $350,000, $575,000, $2,250,000, and $1,400,000.
The latter is a sister to sister to Estijaab and Congregation, purchased by Kia Ora Stud / TFI from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Response has a weanling colt by The Autumn Sun and revisited Snitzel last spring.
