Punters that took the short odds on the favourite Performer in Saturday's Group III Toyota Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens headed straight to the bar after the Golden Slipper second favourite scrambled to a hard-fought nose victory.
Carrying a 3kg penalty for his win in the Listed Breeders' Plate at Randwick back in October, Performer looked set for a comfortable win when coming with a well-timed run by Kerrin McEvoy but he found a willing opponent in China Horse Club's $925,000 Snitzel colt Stratosphere who rallied back in the closing stages to run the favourite to a nose.
Gary Portelli's talented Exceltic (Excelebration) was two and a quarter lengths back in third. (photos Steve Hart ).
Waller said he gives the chestnut son of Exceed And E#xcel a pass mark on his fighting effort.
"Putting everything into perspective, we've still got a long way to go until where we hope he gets to which is the Golden Slipper," Waller said.
"I was worried before the race. When I saw them going around in the parade ring I just thought, 'how good do these horses look?'
"But he's an exciting horse to be training ahead of a big autumn carnival and we wouldn't change him for anything."
Waller favours the Group II Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 10 as Performer's Golden Slipper lead-up run.
A $450,000 Magic Millions purchase for Harras Syndicate / Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft, Performer runs for a syndicate of loyal Waller stable clients.
The son of Exceed And Excel is a half-brother to Group I Galaxy Stakes winner Bel Sprinter and is the fourth winner from Snippets mare Gavroche.
After missing to Good Journey (USA) in 2016, Gavroche was covered by Fastnet Rock last spring.
