Chris Waller celebrated his 37th birthday in style when his warhorse Danleigh captured his fourth Group One win in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Perfectly ridden by Hugh Bowman, the seven-year-old came with a perfectly-timed run in the straight on Saturday to overhaul runner-up Centennial Park who was being hailed as the winner inside the final 200m of the 1600m feature.
Danleigh takes out today's Chipping Norton Stakes - Photo by Steve Hart
Sacred Choice was third and Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday an eye-catching fourth.
Danleigh had previously scored at the elite level in the 2009 All-Aged Stakes and Manikato Stakes and last year’s George Ryder Stakes, a race firmly on his agenda again.
“Everything’s gone well with this horse this preparation,” Waller said.
“Once you get these old boys fired up they know what to do.
“It was perfect ride from Hugh Bowman.
“A good birthday.”
Bowman was rapt in Danleigh’s win which was his ninth in 41 starts and took his prizemoney past $2 million.
“He’s been a good horse to me and to Chris too,” he said.
“He’s been a wonderful horse.
“Everything fell into place today and I was confident a long way out.”