Talented colt Delectation has ended his juvenile season by completing a hat-trick and setting himself up for a late spring campaign.
Despite his two recent wins, the Chris Waller-trained two-year-old was sent out at $5.50 in Saturday’s TAB Early Quaddie (1200m) with Inkling the $1.70 favourite.
Last of the six runners at the home turn, Delectation assumed the lead in the straight and held off the challenge from his stablemate Wine Tales ($13) by three-quarters of a length with Inkling another half length third.
Waller said he came close to scratching Delectation, believing he had done his job this preparation but decided to give him one last race before a spell.
“He has come a long way this preparation and has surprised me by the way he keeps stepping up,” Waller said.
“I wanted to send him out on a winning note which is why I thought about scratching him.
“Even though it was a small field it was a very good field.
“He has done the job and he will probably have a short break now and get ready for a race like the Roman Consul on Epsom day in October.
“If he performs we will look at races like the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington later in the spring.”
Waller said he expected Delectation to come back a more mature horse.
“He is still learning and didn’t really switch off in the race as he should,” he said.
“But he really wants to be a racehorse and did a good job with the big weight.”
Delectation carried 59kg topweight, 2kg more than Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Inkling who dominated a recent midweek race on debut.
