Staying Stakes Goals Ahead for Kiwi Bred Medatsu

Media Release - Saturday August 24

Chris Waller is looking forward to stepping Medatsu up in distance after the emerging four-year-old collected his second successive victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

Medatsu with his second successive victory in Saturday’s Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.Photo: Steve Hart

The New Zealand-bred son of Staphanos began his career in the Cambridge stable of Clinton Isdale, for whom he placed in three of his four starts including the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) as a late-season juvenile.

Medatsu was a first-up winner for Waller at Kembla Grange last September, then stepped straight up into the big time and was unplaced in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

He returned from a long break with an impressive first-up win over 1500m at Rosehill on August 3, and Saturday brought more of the same – this time in the colours of the race sponsors, who promote and raise funds for organ donation around Australia.

Medatsu was ridden by Tommy Berry, who settled towards the back before moving up in the slipstream of Peace Officer as that fellow Kiwi-bred swooped around the outside of the field at the home turn.

Peace Officer pounced and hit the lead with 300m remaining, but he was quickly joined and passed by Medatsu, who surged ahead to win by a length and three-quarters.

“He’s a lovely horse,” Berry said. “I’d just like him to leave the barriers a bit better. He’s going to have to do that once he gets into some better races.

Advertisement

“But he’s a progressive staying type and he gave me a good feel today. We had something to cart us into the race at the right time, which made the job easier.”

Raced by breeder Luigi Muollo in partnership with his brother Tony, Medatsu has now had eight starts for three wins, three placings and A$195,861.

“That was a very good ride by Tommy,” Waller said. “He was awkwardly drawn (gate 10) but didn’t panic. He brought him into the race at the right time, and the horse was very strong in the straight.

“He’s a very progressive horse. I was concerned that the 1600m might be a bit short for him today, but he showed good acceleration. He’ll step up in distance now.”

Bred by Luigi Muollo’s Explosive Breeding Ltd, Medatsu is by Novara Park stallion Staphanos and is out of the Mastercraftsman mare Christine Ann. He is a half-brother to Listed winner Rocababy. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel (Bm78) 1600m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.55
1
Medatsu
- 4g Staphanos (JPN) x Christine Ann (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 55.5
2
1.8
Peace Officer
- 5g Iffraaj (GB) x Coyote Miss (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C E Conners Rdr: Benjamin Osmond 56
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $90,000
Seller: Lime Country Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Burradoo
Buyer: Victory Lodge Pty Ltd
3
2.2
Miss You Ella
- 6m Declaration Of War (USA) x Newstouse (USA) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Zac Lloyd 58
4
2.9
Taraashoq
- 7g Maxios (GB) x Tassina (GER) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 58
5
3.1
Awash
- 5g Merchant Navy (AUS) x Chasing Mammon (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 59
6
3.4
Sweet Mercy
- 5m Capitalist (AUS) x Adulterer (NZ) (Traditionally (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
7
3.9
West Of Africa
- 5g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Serena Bay (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tyler Schiller 60.5
8
4.9
Colour Sergeant
- 7g Kingman (GB) x Quilita (GER) (Lomitas (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J Ford 56.5
9
8
Rattle And Hum
- 5g New Bay (GB) x Trempjane (GB) (Lujain (USA))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Rachel King 58
10
38.7
Unlimited
- 5g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Love And Bubbles (USA) (Loup Sauvage (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
More Reading...
Kiwi stayer Medatsu on the Up
Four-year-old gelding Medatsu notched his fourth victory from 11 starts when running out a strong winner of the Vale John Nicholson Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Young Kiwi Stayer Medatsu is On the Up
The Chris Waller-trained Medatsu ran out a gritty winner of the Jockeys Appreciation Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday as the four-year-old gelding recorded his first Sydney metropolitan victory.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Pelzter added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.