Hualalai ready for Melbourne debut

Darryl Sherer - Monday August 28

Sydney colt Hualalai has fitted seamlessly into the Flemington stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott ahead of his Melbourne debut at Caulfield on Saturday.

Advertisement
Hualalai winning his last start at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart

Hualalai is one of 21 nominations for the Group III HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) and Waterhouse was delighted with the way the colt galloped at Flemington on Monday.

The three-year-old and last start Group III winner Stampede worked over 1200m on the dirt, quickening through the last 400m in 24.73 seconds with Hualalai well on the bridle at the finish under Stephen Baster.

"He's taken to being in Melbourne like a duck to water and his work this morning was super," Waterhouse said.

"Stephen said he was on the right leg all the way, leaned into the corners and felt as though he'd been going this way all his life."

Hualalai last raced when winning over 1400m at Rosehill on July 1 and won a 1045m barrier trial at Randwick on August 21 before heading to Melbourne.

By Street Cry out of Group I winner Aloha, Hualalai cost Spendthrift Farm $625,000 as a yearling and Waterhouse believes the best is still to come.

"He's a big gross colt who finishes his breakfast by the time you get around to feeding the rest of the stable," Waterhouse said.

"He's a horse that does well in the stable and now the trip to Melbourne has sparked him up.

"He's bred to be a super miler - his dam was a Group I winner at 1500m and he's a gorgeous thing to look. The Caulfield Guineas is the race we'd like to win with him but we'll get started on Saturday."

Stephen Baster will ride Hualalai on Saturday.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
New Sprint Star for WA?
Oakland Park's veteran WA sire Sessions is rarely without a good horse to represent him, and the son of Lonhro now has his sixth stakes winner after exciting 3YO galloper Repossession spanked the older horses to win the Listed Beaufine Stakes at Pinjarra Park.
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.