Imported stayer Wazn brought an international flavour to Warwick Farm on Thursday with his victory in the feature Australia Day Cup.
The former French-based horse, trained by Kiwi Chris Waller, was ridden by South African Glyn Schofield who sported special Australian flag silks in the $100,000 Listed event.
Wazn, having his first start over 2400m, settled at the tail of the field before Schofield saved ground near the inside and weaved through to make his challenge in the straight.
The five-year-old tired late in the heavy conditions but had enough of an advantage to keep Yulalona ($5.50) at bay by three-quarters of a length.
Bold frontrunner Legsman, who started equal favourite with Wazn at $4, strung the field out during the run and held on for third another long head away.
Waller, who has had a sensational rise in the Sydney training ranks since moving from New Zealand 11 years ago, was delighted with Wazn’s performance and said the winner would be aimed towards the Brisbane Cup in the winter.
“Everything was going along beautifully until two starts ago when he ran (sixth) here in the Tatt’s Cup and I think the hard track got to him that day,” Waller said.
“Last start he ran a super race for second in the Gosford Cup and it was a good ride from Glyn today.
“The plan wasn’t to go that far back but we wanted to save a bit of ground and not go to the outside at the 600 metre mark. It worked out pretty well.”
Wazn is yet another in a long list of imported horses Waller has enjoyed success with in Sydney, including Stand To Gain who won the Sydney Cup last year.
The Australia Day Cup victory was Wazn’s fifth from 12 starts in Australia and Waller believes it won’t be the stayer’s last success over the distance.
“He’s more of an Australian-type of stayer and has got a bit of speed to him,” Waller said.
“We’ll target some of the 2000 metre races at the end of the Sydney carnival and then head to Queensland and maybe end up in the Brisbane Cup.”
In five of the seven races on Thursday, one jockey wore silks designed in the image of the Australian flag as part of Australia Day celebrations but Wazn was the only one to win.
Wazn’s stablemate Permit was scratched from the Australia Day Cup on race morning and Waller said he would look to start him on Saturday week over 2200m in a benchmark event.
AAP TURF
