Chris Waller strengthened his grip on a second consecutive Sydney Cup when Permit continued his surge towards the Group One with a resolute win in Saturday’s Chairman’s Quality at Randwick.
The former French galloper has blossomed under Waller, backing up his Manion Cup victory with another fine staying performance over the 2600 metres of the Group Two Chairman’s.
His win also gave jockey Corey Brown reason to smile after a frustrating day in which he was luckless when beaten aboard odds-on favourite Ichihara in the opening race and denied a Group One success on Rain Affair in the TJ Smith Stakes in the final strides when Craig Williams aboard Master Of Design gunned him down.
“I’ll probably get worst ride of the day and nearly the best ride of the day,” Brown said.
“It’s been frustrating.”
Waller was glowing in his assessment of Brown’s ride aboard Permit from an awkward draw in gate 12.
He said the race panned out so well in the run he was waiting for it to go pear-shaped at the finish.
“Ten out of ten. Everything went so well I was wondering how long the good luck could go,” Waller said.
“It was a gem of a ride from the awkward barrier.
“The Sydney Cup was always the plan and it’s good to have the horse going into it with a bit of confidence.”
Waller won the Sydney Cup last year with Stand To Gain and Permit is shaping as the form horse heading into the 3200m stamina test on the final day of the Sydney carnival.
The five-year-old, who was sent out the $2.40 favourite, settled better than midfield for Brown, peeled out in the straight and chased down Older Than Time ($7.50) to score by three-quarters of a length.
Nextanix ($31) also turned in a good Sydney Cup trial with his game third, another short half-head away.
Kerry Parker, trainer of Nextanix, was rapt with his improved effort and confirmed the Sydney Cup was his goal.
“Definitely. I was disappointed in his last run but he was good today,” Parker said.
