Altius, one of the best-bred horses in training, gave Chris Waller the perfect start to his celebrations as Sydney’s premier trainer at the final metropolitan meeting of the season at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Redoute’s Choice colt out of the wonderful producing mare Circles Of Gold defeated a strong bunch of late-season three-year-olds to take out the Heath and Beau Cooper Glenrock Handicap (1500m).
Altius, one of the best-bred horses in training, gave Chris Waller the perfect start to his celebrations as Sydney's premier trainer - Photo by Steve Hart
Waller has had a season to remember, becoming just the fifth trainer in history to prepare 100 metropolitan winners in a Sydney season and clinching his first Sydney trainers’ premiership.
The Rosehill horseman said it was great to start the final day of the season on a winning note.
“It’s massive but you don’t stop putting pressure on yourself and today is no exception,” Waller said.
“A few people have come up to me and said ‘go out and enjoy today’ but there was no chance of that unless I trained a winner.
“That takes the pressure off a bit.”
Waller has only had the highly-talented Altius for two starts after the colt did his early racing under the care of Tony Vasil who trained his famous three-quarter brother Elvstroem and half-brother Haradasun.
The rising four-year-old demonstrated there was plenty to look forward to from him this spring as well as he travelled three wide with cover before making a winning move early in the straight.
Altius ($9) defeated Nextanix ($9.50) by 1-3/4 lengths with Sienna Red ($19) a long head away third, while fancied runners Whisperossa ($3.50 fav) and Valdhez ($4) were out of the placings after having no luck when getting held up at crucial times in the straight.
Altius races in the colours of prominent owner Frank Tagg who raced both Elvstroem and Haradasun and owns Circles Of Gold.
“It’s great to get owners like this in the stable with quality horses and I guess that’s what’s built our season,” Waller said.
“And full credit to Tony Vasil because he educated this horse perfectly and he is just a dream to train.
“The owners live in Sydney and I think they were looking forward to getting him up here so they could see him race. He’s a serious horse and I’m sure if he can keep progressing we can win some nice races.”
AAP TURF
