Chris Waller is not short of talent for the big spring races with several key horses in the team including Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) sent across to Randwick on Tuesday morning to trial, so how did they go?
The big guns were just out for a stroll to stretch their legs with the stable reportedly very happy with what they saw.
The first heat was won by fast four year-old Written By gelding The Novelist, who made all the running and kicked on well as he should, given he raced in Brisbane at the end of June, so has plenty of residual fitness.
Full Count Felicia (USA) is an interesting one for Yulong and had just the one run in the autumn, when she was very light in condition and didn’t go that badly when fourth in the Group I ATC Ranvet Stakes.
Winner of the Group I Woodbine EP Taylor Stakes in Canada, she was bought by Yulong for $US1million from the Fasig-Tipton November Sale last year.
Tom Kitten and Zardozi head to new trainers to start the new season with the former going to Anthony and Sam Freedman and the latter to Ciaron Maher.
The second of the big heats was won by tough old Kiwi Palmetto, who led and set a good tempo with the 2YO colt Beiwacht working home well for second.
Beiwacht is another of the Godolphin horses that will be relocating to a new trainer and he’s going to Chris Waller, who also prepares another talented 2YO colt in Wodeton, who wasn’t asked for a lot in this heat and just cruised home in sixth.
Beiwacht has won only one race from five starts, but it was the Group II ATC Silver Slipper when he comfortably beat the Wootton Bassett colts West of Swindon and Wodeton.
We’ll soon find out if that win was a fluke or if Beiwacht in fact has more to offer and if Wodeton is the real deal or is another good looking colt that can't quite translate talent into Black Type wins..
