Political Debate has ended a two-and-a-half year hiatus from the winner’s stall with a hard-fought victory at Randwick in what connections hope will give the Group One placegetter a much-needed confidence boost.
The five-year-old’s only other win came in the Listed Phoenix Stakes at Eagle Farm in June 2022, a start before he finished runner-up in the J J Atkins Stakes.
Since then he has managed a handful of minor placings, including a second to Fawkner Park in last year’s Wagga Gold Cup, before finally breaking through in the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
“He has always had plenty of ability, we have just struggled to get that out of him at times,” winning jockey Tommy Berry said of the Chris Waller-prepared gelding.
“But when they are trained by the best, they find ways. Chris said, ‘ride him forward today, wake him up’, and it proved to be the winning move.
“They get confidence out of it, especially these older horses. It’s very easy for them to lose confidence, it’s very hard for them to gain, so only winning can do that.”
Despite a modest strikerate of two wins from 23 starts, Political Debate is a popular member of Waller’s yard and the champion trainer, who is also a part-owner, says it is satisfying to get him back winning.
“He’s a neat horse, a stable favourite,” Waller said.
“He is a real gentleman, a lovely mover, everybody just loves riding him.
“It’s the right time of the year for him. He will progress through to races like the Parramatta Cup as a fit horse when some of the better carnival horses will still be a little bit soft.”
Political Debate ($20) scored by a long head over Father’s Day ($26) with Miss You Ella ($9) another half-neck away third.
Bjorn Baker produced an impressive winner in three-year-old Point And Shoot, who reacted to a cold ride from Tim Clark to trounce his Inglis Classic Yearling Sale 9-11 Feb Handicap (1400m) rivals by a widening 5-1/2 lengths.
The gelding produced a stunning turn of foot from back in the field, justifying the stable’s decision to step him up in trip.
“He was dynamic. We knew he was going well and Bjorn was adamant he wanted him ridden patiently today and he showed his true colours,” Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said.
“We weren’t sure about going up or coming back (in distance) but he might even get a little bit further ridden like that and that will open up a lot of doors for him. He is a lovely three-year-old.”
